Pharmac is proposing to fund two new drugs to be readily available to sufferers of hepatitis C.

Currently, sufferers have no funded access to the modern anti-viral drugs they need.

The Drug and Alcohol Practitioners Association says it is disappointing many New Zealanders with the disease can't access effective treatment until they are in danger of dying.

Spokeswoman Sue Paton says it is the biggest cause of liver cancer and liver transplants.

"Hepatitis C is a killer and a sleeping giant because people often don't know they have it."

There are an estimated 25,000 New Zealanders who have the disease hepatitis C but are not aware of it.