Jaidyn Kennedy
Wyndham residents living with hepatitis B may not be getting the treatment they need, according to health experts.
Data from The Doherty Institute’s Viral Hepatitis Mapping Project National Report estimated that only 27.6 per cent of those with hepatitis B in Wyndham are receiving care.
The data also estimated that of the 58,268 Victorians estimated to be living with chronic hepatitis B, only 28.7 per cent are receiving care that includes check-ups and treatment, to help prevent serious complications including liver cancer.
Cancer Council Victoria early detection manager Charissa Feng said hepatitis B often doesn’t have any symptoms, which means thousands of Victorians are unknowingly living with the virus.
“We also know for those who have been diagnosed, many aren’t attending regular check-ups or are unable to find a local doctor to manage their treatment plan,“ she said.
The insufficient detection and treatment of hepatitis B can also have health implications far beyond the infection itself.
Hepatitis B is a virus that can affect the liver, and if left undetected and untreated can cause liver cancer.
Ms Feng emphasised that while there is no cure for hepatitis B, regular care and treatment can prevent liver damage and lower the risk of cancer.
“If you have been diagnosed with hepatitis B, it is important to see your doctor regularly to monitor the virus and if needed, take medication to prevent liver cancer,” she said.
The state government’s Victorian Cancer Plan 2024-28, launched last month, which stipulated increasing the proportion of people receiving care for hepatitis B to 90 per cent as one of its goals, a measure Ms Feng welcomes and hopes will prompt more immediate action.
In Victoria, there are only 116 general practitioners and nurse practitioners who are accredited and approved to prescribe the hepatitis B medication.
To support greater access to treatment, Cancer Council Victoria with funding from the Victorian Department of Health is offering 20 scholarships for Victorian general practitioners and nurse practitioners to complete training to become accredited prescribers of hepatitis B treatment.
Details: www.cancervic.org.au/cancer-information/screening/hep-b-liver-cancer
