New hepatitis C medication to be publicly distributed

Three new medicines used to treat hepatitis C will be offered under the Unified Public Health Care System (SUS) up to the end of the year, according to estimates made by the Ministry of Health. They are called daclatasvir, sofosbuvir and simeprevir, and they are reported to boost the chances of success and cut treatment duration. The new treatment has a 90% healing rate, compared to today's 50% to 70%.

Another benefit mentioned by representatives from the ministry is the treatment's 12-month duration, against the 48 weeks in the current therapy. Also, the new method is viewed as less cumbersome, as the new medicines are all taken orally.

According to the Health Ministry, the medicines will be distributed across the states and may be prescribed to both those recently diagnosed with hepatitis C and people who have finished the treatment but remain uncured.

During the first year, enough medication will be bought for 15 thousand patients. The purchase should cost $160 million, according to official estimates.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira