The Motivate C project, led by the University of Sydney, aims to address barriers preventing Australians from seeking treatment for Hepatitis C, despite the availability of effective and low-cost therapies. Hepatitis C, a blood-borne virus linked to serious health issues like liver cirrhosis and cancer, requires treatment to halt liver damage and potentially prevent cancer development. New medicines, which are safe and easy to administer (one tablet a day for eight weeks), boast a cure rate of about 95 percent and are low-cost for Medicare cardholders. However, data from the Kirby Institute indicates that only 7 percent of the approximately 123,770 Australians with chronic Hepatitis C received treatment in 2020. Professor Tom Snelling, the project’s lead investigator, identifies key barriers such as stigma and expenses that deter individuals from pursuing treatment, noting that many remain asymptomatic and may prioritize other concerns. The project seeks to enhance understanding of how to better promote treatment options, potentially utilizing financial incentives as a tool. The initiative aligns with the Australian Government and WHO’s objective to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, and it is supported by funding from the Medical Research Future Fund.
