Sion hospital to treat 6,000 hepatitis C patients for free

MUMBAI: The national programme to combat viral hepatitis was launched from civicrun Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General (LTMG) Hospital on Sunday on World Hepatitis Day. The state will roll out free treatment for hepatitis C through eight model centres, including LTMG Hospital in Sion.Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). The virus, which can cause acute and chronic hepatitis, causes cancer and liver cirrhosis. While hepatitis C is treatable with a 84- day course, the cost of treatment (Rs18,000-24,000) is prohibitive for many. An estimated 0.6-1.2 crore Indians suffer from hepatitis C.“Under National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, we will offer testing and treatment across 35 centres,” said public health minister Eknath Shinde. Besides Sion Hospital, other centres are BJ Medical College in Pune, Government Medical colleges at Aurangabad, Nagpur, Yevatmal and district hospitals in Nashik, Ratnagiri and Parbhani.Union minister of state for health and family welfare Ashwini Chaubey said the programme was aimed at eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030 from the country. Medication to cure hepatitis C costs almost Rs 52 lakh for an 84-day course in US, but India has procured its generic version for Rs2,300 ($35) per patient. After Hepatitis C, the plan is to provide free medicines for hepatitis B, where patient have to be on medicines life-long.Sion Hospital is preparing to treat around 6,000 patients. “We got medicines for 400 patients and will add more,” said Dr Akash Shukla, head of gastroenterology. A toll-free helpline (1800-11-6666) will disseminate information.Eldred Tellis, who heads NGO Sankalp Foundation, said the programme is commendable provided the government ensures there are no drug stock-outs like HIV and TB programmes are facing.