12,000 tested positive for hepatitis C at PIMS in one year

Islamabad

As many as 12,000 patients have been tested positive for hepatitis C at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in last one year that shows nearly 20 per cent increase in number of cases registered at the PIMS as compared to the previous year.

Data collected by ‘The News’ has revealed that the incidence of hepatitis B and C is continuously on the rise in this region of the country and the number of patients of the infection is increasing every year at an alarming pace.

PIMS Deputy Director Dr. Waseem Ahmed Khawaja informed ‘The News’ on Saturday that of the 12,000 patients tested positive for hepatitis C at PIMS in last one year, nearly 4,000 are on antiviral treatment.

He said that both the oral medication and injection therapy are being provided to hepatitis C patients at PIMS but through Bait-ul-Maal only and patients have to visit again and again for completing documentation to have free of cost treatment through Zakat fund.

To a query, he said that it is decided according to stage of the disease and age of patient that what kind of treatment, he or she is needed. Of course, we cannot say that there is any significant control on spread of hepatitis as the number of patients is continuously on the rise for the last few years, he added.

He said the main reasons behind spread of hepatitis are use of unsterilized medical equipment, use of unscreened blood and blood products, multiple uses of single syringes, beauty parlour instruments and carelessness in lifestyle.

To a query, he said it is ironical that PCR testing facility for hepatitis patients is not available at PIMS and genotyping cannot be done at the hospital. Such equipments must be available in all healthcare facilities in the country if we want to check spread of hepatitis, he said. “PCR and genotyping is a must for diagnosis, prognosis and duration of treatment and whether a patient needs treatment or not for antiviral therapy.”

He said the incidence rate can be gauged from the fact that on World Hepatitis Day, July 28, the PIMS arranged a free medical camp for screening of hepatitis in which, nearly 300 individuals were tested of which 50 were positive for hepatitis C virus.

He said the spread of hepatitis can only be controlled through proper management of the existing patients and awareness among public on how to prevent it.  The treatment available in public sector hospitals is being provided through special programmes or Bait-ul-Maal and to make it systematic and convenient for patients, one window operations should be designed, he said.

He suggested that the medication should be provided to patients directly through Bait-ul-Maal. At present, hospitals provide medication to the patients after approval from Bait-ul-Maal that reimbursed the amount to the hospital. The process takes weeks and the patients have to suffer badly, said Dr. Khawaja.