Liver biopsy not required for hepatitis B medicine
24 October 2011
From 1 November 2011, people with hepatitis B will no longer have to undergo liver biopsy before they can receive hepatitis B medicine, and instead may opt for a liver function test.
Supporters of the change say the requirement had blocked many with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection from accessing treatment, as they were either reluctant to have the invasive biopsy procedure or they lived in a remote area.
Pilot programs will also be rolled out next year offering GPs training to prescribe HBV medicine without needing to refer the person to a specialist.
Experts said the new approach would tackle Australia’s fastest increasing cause of cancer death, liver cancer from viral hepatitis.
Treatment rates for hepatitis C surged 50 per cent when a similar biopsy requirement was relaxed in 2006.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) - the government committee that assesses applications for listing of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) - endorsed the change, which was jointly proposed by the Australian Society for HIV Medicine, Australian Liver Association and other stakeholders (online, Jul 2011).
Last Reviewed: 28 October 2011
- 1. Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC). Recommendations made by the PBAC. July 2011 PBAC outcomes - positive recommendations. http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/industry/listing/elements/pbac-meetings/pbac-outcomes/2011-07/positive-recommendations (accessed Oct 2011).
2. Victorian Hepatitis B Alliance. Recommendation that mandatory biopsy be removed as a criterion for hepatitis B s100 funded treatment. http://vhba.org.au/content/recommendation-mandatory-biopsy-be-removed-criterion-hepatitis-b-s100-funded-treatment (accessed Oct 2011).
3. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. National Hepatitis B Strategy 2010–2013. Canbera: Commonwealth of Australia, 2010. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-national-strategies-2010-hepb/$File/hepb.pdf (accessed oct 2011).
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