Direct-acting antivirals have been a game-changer in hepatitis C treatment, providing fresh hope for the 180,000 Australians estimated to be living with the chronic disease.

Despite the agents’ success — a cure rate above 95% — challenges remain in treating difficult-to-access populations such as IV drug users, people with psychiatric comorbidities and Indigenous Australians.

A novel approach to reach out to such patients, first developed in New Mexico, US, more than a decade ago, has recently been trialled in Sydney under the moniker Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes).

In a study published in the Internal Medicine Journal, clinicians from Liverpool Hospital showed that the program, involving primary health professionals liaising with specialists via weekly video conferences, offered an alternative to tertiary clinic care.