Access to direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of hepatitis C in a country with limited resources

• Published in: Revista de Gastroenterología de México (English Edition) 2018-04, Vol.83 (2), p.208-211
• Main Authors: Marciano, S, Haddad, L, Borzi, S M, D'Amico, C, Gaite, L A, Aubone, M V, Sirotinsky, M E, Ratusnu, N, Frola, M S, Aparicio, M C, Ríos, B, Anselmo, M N, Hansen, R, De Filippi, S, Dans, C García, de Labra, L, Peche, M A, Strella, T M, Ibáñez Duran, M, García Rosales, M B, Dirchwolf, M, Galdame, O A, Gadano, A C
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; spa
• ISSN: 0375-0906; 2255-534X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rgmx.2018.02.009

To estimate the proportion of patients who access to direct-acting antivirals agents (DAAs) for the treatment of hepatitisC in Argentina and to evaluate factors associated with failure to access to treatment. We performed a cross-sectional study of DAAs prescriptions written by centers participating in the telemedicine project ECHO -Hospital Italiano of Buenos Aires between January 2016 and February 2017. A total of 143 consecutive prescriptions were evaluated; the global access was 70% (95% CI: 62%-77%). The only factor independently associated with failure to access to treatment was belonging to the public healthcare system [OR 4.98 (95% CI: 2.05- 12.09)] in comparison to belonging to private insurance or HMOs. Patients with hepatitisC who belong to the public healthcare system are 4 times more likely to fail to access to treatment of hepatitisC than patients with private insurance or other kind of insurance.