There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, but medical innovations in recent years mean that oral treatments can cure most people. However, these newer drugs have a high cost that can make paying for hepatitis C treatment difficult.
Medication pricing is complex. When new medications hit the market, they are more expensive than older ones.The medications do not have competition from other drug manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies can control their distribution.
Over time, as companies release competitor medications or the medicine is available as a generic drug, the competition usually drives the market cost down. Also, the smaller the demand for a specific treatment, the higher the cost is of that medication. This is because pharmaceutical companies have to make more money per unit, as they will be selling the medication to fewer people.