There is a need to increase the involvement of Australian general practitioners (GPs) working in private practice to realise the potential of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatments for people with the hepatitis C virus.

Several barriers to Australian GPs’ engagement in provision of DAA have been identified, including a deficit of knowledge to confidently prescribe DAA; impeded access to facilities to measure cirrhosis; and problems with convincing GPs working in a ‘time-limited and cost constrained environment’ to add DAA to their scope of clinical practice. This project previously demonstrated that people affected by hepatitis C virus (HCV) viewed GPs in private practice as a source of general health care but, due to negative experiences and perceptions, many developed a strategy of ‘sussing’ out doctors before engaging with and disclosing to a GP regarding HCV-related issues. Participants did not assume that they would be provided best practice care in a non-discriminatory, non-judgemental way.

This paper argues that providing DAA training, skill development, support and resources to GPs is necessary, but may not ensure that individual private GPs will provide this care. Where GPs do not include DAA in their clinical practice, care pathways need to be developed for patients who will benefit from DAA, including GP-to-GP referral. These findings may be applicable to other areas of unmet need that rely on GPs.