National Telehealth Service for Hepatitis C Care Goes Live in Australia

A new national telehealth service has been launched in Australia to expand access to hepatitis C testing and treatment, targeting the estimated 63,000 Australians still living with the virus who have not yet received care.

The new virtual care service is part of HepLink, a national hepatitis information and linkage program operated by Hepatitis Australia in partnership with community hepatitis organizations across the country. The program is funded by the Australian Government Centre for Disease Control and supported by a community grant from Gilead Sciences Australia.

Telehealth Platform and Technology

The HepLink telehealth service is powered by MediRecords’ cloud-based practice management and electronic medical record system, integrated with Coviu’s telehealth platform and AI medical scribe technology. Through this integrated system, healthcare professionals can arrange diagnostic tests, conduct virtual consultations, and issue electronic prescriptions where appropriate.

The service connects patients directly to a nurse-led care team experienced in hepatitis C treatment, while community organizations provide peer support and patient navigation services to help reduce stigma and improve access to care.

Expanding Access to Treatment

Australia has made significant progress in hepatitis C treatment over the past decade. Since antiviral medications became widely available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in 2016, nearly 100,000 people have been cured of the virus. However, treatment rates have slowed in recent years as the remaining patient population has become harder to reach.

Many people living with hepatitis C face barriers such as stigma, misinformation, cost, and geographic isolation, which makes accessing traditional healthcare services difficult. The new telehealth service aims to address these barriers by allowing patients to complete testing, consultations, and prescriptions remotely — in many cases receiving treatment on the same day as their first appointment.

Australia now joins Canada as one of the few countries offering national virtual access to hepatitis C care.

Part of a Broader Virtual Care Trend

The launch of the HepLink telehealth service reflects a broader trend toward virtual healthcare services across Australia. New virtual care initiatives include remote specialist hospital services, virtual counseling lines for rural communities, and virtual aged care nursing programs.

Australia’s national virtual health provider, Healthdirect Australia, has also recently introduced a patient consultation summary generation tool within its video call platform.

In addition, the Australian Digital Health Agency has established a national committee to guide the federal government on the safe use of telehealth, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies in healthcare.

Looking Ahead

In its first 12 to 24 months, the HepLink Telehealth Service is expected to expand its reach through partnerships with primary care providers, community organizations, and health services, with a strong focus on high-need and underserved populations.

Healthcare leaders say the program represents an important step toward eliminating hepatitis C in Australia by making testing and treatment more accessible through digital healthcare delivery.