The Australian Federal Budget handed down on 14 May, includes some welcome funding for the fight to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030. That said, it is disappointing to note that hepatitis B is again given a back seat with less than half the total funding for hepatitis C initiatives, despite the fact that in Australia, there are more people living with chronic hepatitis B than there are with hepatitis C.
The continuation and expansion of the National Strategies for Bloodborne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections is funded over the next two years to the tune of $126.5 million, specifically to extend and expand activities to support the prevention, testing and treatment of blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections, including support for First Nations communicable disease services.
