Government drug-buying agency, Pharmac, estimates about 250 people
will be able to access the treatment every year, at a cost of up to
$5 million.

About half of the estimated 30,000 New Zealanders infected with
hepatitis C are genotype 1, but the majority are unaware they have
the disease, which can take years to produce symptoms.

Pharmac chief executive Wayne McNee said the deal with the
pharmaceutical company Roche Products was "a step forward" for
sufferers of hepatitis C.

"We will be targeting the treatment to the largest identifiable
group, which is also the hardest group to treat using the standard
therapy," he said in a statement.

"We also expect that improving treatment will have downstream
benefits in other areas of the health sector, such as reducing the
demand for liver transplants as a result of hepatitis C infection."

Pharmac was also looking at ways of making the new treatment even
more widely available, he said.

Hepatitis Foundation chief executive John Hornell, a long-time
campaigner for the treatment, said hepatitis infections had
reached "epidemic proportions" in New Zealand and yesterday's
announcement was "great news".

"Having the most effective therapy available means a cure has become
a realistic goal for more people," he said.

"Living with hepatitis C can be like having a time-bomb in your
liver."

Common symptoms included fatigue, feeling unwell and alcohol
intolerance.

Chronic infection can lead to advanced liver disease (cirrhosis),
liver failure and liver cancer.