Does indeed look like good news but $1b only treats 20k patients that doesn’t take into account clinical expenses and no information regarding timeframes. Is that $1b straight up or 200m per year. Need more detail.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/12/20/govt-invests-1-billion-hepatitis-c-cures

A billion-dollar investment to improve access to hepatitis C cures could lead to the disease being “all but eradicated” within a generation, the government says.

“There is great hope we can not only halt the spread of this deadly infectious virus, but eradicate it altogether in

They dont buy from from Gilead at todays prices. Gilead has competition a much much cheaper rate will be offered. If need be Gilead will make the drugs in India and sell it ahead to wherever. Harvoni in Europe comes from Ireland today.
It could be made in Australia with a licence from Gilead, BMS or whoever. This way it would also create jobs.

Its wonderful news … a historic event.

I’m certain this would not have occurred without the global focus on a hardworking, humanitarian and courageous group of people in Tasmania. The Government’s initial 2014 decision to purchase only simeprevir (to be paired with interferon) in favour of sofosbuvir – shamefully understated the fact that many Australian HCV sufferers were effectively being discarded as cost saving collateral – left to die – the authorities knew that many sufferers whose condition was more advanced, could not access this treatment because of the high risk of liver failure.

I never could reconcile how this “glaring” fact somehow escaped being sufficiently publicised by the media or understood by the general public – it should have been. However, the global spotlight on Australian treatment which has so recently occurred through the Tasmanian endeavour may have eventually made this dirty little secret apparent – a shame which no Government in a “developed” nation like Australia would be eager to see focused.

But let us see how the HCV saga really unfolds – meanwhile as “all” Australians receive the drugs – generics for many may still remain the better option; there is also valuable, additional support offered by this forum and many people in the “village” still seeking assistance. There are still “many miles to go”.

Perfectly stated Archer!
I don’t think Gilead would have lowered its prices enough for a deal to be struck in any other first world country. Only one that allows its citizens to self-import generic treatments with the help the amazing Dr. Freeman, his Buyers’ Club and REDEMTION e trials could force Greediad to make a deal.
A generation is a long time in relative terms.
Yes, a lot still to do.
Mike

Such good news! I just feel bad for people it’s too late for.

WOW! That really is fantastic news. I can see why my Specialist kept telling me to ‘wait’ until my appointment in April. Nevertheless, I can’t help but feel skeptical too, I know the news article says it will be ‘available to everyone no matter their condition’, I still suspect it could only be handled by triaging in the public clinics. So, that is certainly great news for the sickest – my brother has cirrhosis – so hoping he gets access and monitoring with his clinic in NSW.

I’m still happy I’ll be starting tx soon.

Health Minister Sussan Ley interviewed on Channel 9 this morning:

http://www.9news.com.au/health/2015/12/20/08/14/federal-government-to-spend-1b-to-subsidise-breakthrough-hepatitis-c-cures

She reiterates treatment availability for EVERY SINGLE PATIENT. (2:30 mins onward)

I expect we’ll be hearing more from Dr James about what’s really going on…

People at Hepatitis C Treatment w/o Borders are taking starkly different views on the announcement, from a spin exercise to cures for all as Sussan Ley says. Greg J is not buying it at all…