The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee recommended on April 24 that three new antiviral medications, designed to treat hepatitis C, be considered for addition to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy manager Sione Crawford, who lives with hepatitis C, said the difference between the new and old drugs was like "night and day".

"The old ones are based around interferon and it's quite an invasive drug to take," he said.

"It can have some quite serious side effects for people."

Hepatitis ACT executive officer John Didlick said new treatments were safer, worked faster and could be used on sicker patients.

"I know a guy who's about to start interferon-based therapy ... he got profoundly unwell last time, mentally as well as physically, so he knows what he's getting himself into," he said.

"With the new drugs, he would be able to take a drug that doesn't make him sick for 12 weeks instead of six months."

Mr Didlick said in the United States at the moment, some of the new drugs could cost $1000 a pill.

Mr Crawford said he had noticed his health beginning to deteriorate over the past few years and he was keen to use the new, effective drugs.

"Five years ago I might have had two sicks day a year, I now have a week or maybe two a year," he said.

"I'm very lucky to have an employer who I'm able to be open with and honest about why I'm sick so often but a lot of people aren't that lucky.

"There are other people quite a bit longer along than me who are quite frustrated and desperate."

Mr Didlick said it was important for government and pharmaceutical companies to come to an agreement on a price quickly as about 50 people a month were dying in Australia from hepatitis C-related illnesses.

"It has to happen," he said.

"Not happening is not an option.

"But there's a lot of work required of government and pharmaceutical companies to find a price they can all agree on."