Hepatitis C and HIV: Take the Next Step
Hepatitis Awareness Week ran from 27 July to 2 August 2026. World Hepatitis Day was on 28 July.
This year’s Australian theme is “Take the Next Step.” It is a reminder that everyone can take a step towards better health. This could mean getting tested, starting treatment, talking to a healthcare worker, or learning more about hepatitis.
For people living with HIV, looking after your liver is an important part of looking after your health.
HIV and hepatitis C
HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) can both be passed on through contact with infected blood.
Some people living with HIV also have hepatitis C. When someone has both HIV and hepatitis C, hepatitis C can damage the liver more quickly if it is not treated.
This can cause serious health problems, such as liver scarring and liver cancer.
Testing and treatment can help protect your health.
Hepatitis C can be cured
Treatment for hepatitis C has changed a lot. Most people can now be cured by taking tablets called direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).
Treatment usually:
- involves taking tablets every day
- takes about 8–12 weeks
- has few side effects
- cures more than 95% of people.
People living with HIV can also be successfully treated for hepatitis C.
Can I take hepatitis C treatment with my HIV treatment?
Usually, yes.
You can often keep taking your HIV treatment while you are treated for hepatitis C.
Some medicines can affect each other. Your doctor or healthcare team will check your medicines to make sure they are safe to take together.
You should keep taking your HIV treatment as prescribed.
Why is testing important?
You can have hepatitis C without feeling sick or having any symptoms.
A test can tell you if you have hepatitis C. Finding hepatitis C early means you can start treatment sooner.
If you are living with HIV and think you may have been exposed to hepatitis C, talk to your healthcare team.
Can hepatitis C come back?
Hepatitis C can be cured, but you can get it again if you are exposed to the virus.
Using sterile injecting equipment and not sharing needles or other injecting equipment can help reduce your risk.
If you have had hepatitis C before and think you may have been exposed again, talk to your healthcare team about testing.
Hepatitis C can be cured.
Take the next step and talk to your healthcare team about hepatitis C.
References and further reading
- CDC – Treatment of Hepatitis C
https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-c/treatment/index.html - NIH HIVinfo – HIV and Hepatitis C
https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/hiv-and-hepatitis-c - Research on HIV and hepatitis C
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5075006/ - Research on hepatitis C treatment and HIV
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7172984/ - Research on hepatitis C and HIV
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7047613/ - The Lancet – Hepatitis C research
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065%2823%2900067-6/fulltext - The Lancet HIV – HIV and hepatitis C research
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018%2823%2900267-9/fulltext - Australia’s World Hepatitis Day campaign
https://www.worldhepatitisday.org.au/
