VEHARI: The Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI), Vehari centre, has failed to provide free medicines to Hepatitis C patients in the last six months.

Up to 7,000 Hepatitis-C patients are registered with the centre to get free treatment at the centre established on the Vehari District Headquarters Hospital premises.

Former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif had inaugurated the Hepatitis Prevention and Treatment Centre at the PKLI in Vehari on May 4, 2018.

According to Dr Talha, in charge of the centre, hepatitis vaccine and medicines are not available in the centre. He says the centre only provides blood screening, not treatment. The shortage of funds is the main cause of the unavailability of the medicines.

An official of the centre said that over 2,000 applications by Hepatitis C patients are pending notification for approval. He said that dozens of patients visited the centre daily for medicines.

Sources said the majority of patients were poor, who could not afford private treatment.

Dr Talha told Dawn that they repeatedly brought the situation into the notice of the provincial health department for the early provision of vaccines and medicines but in vain. He said the unchecked sale and usage of contaminated and unhygienic food items were one of the major causes of spread of hepatitis among the people. He said that most of the hepatitis patients were ageed between 24 to 35 years, while married women and children were also falling prey to the disease in rural areas.

Registered patients have demanded that Chief Minister Usman Buzdar ensure the early availability of these medicines so that they could continue their treatment.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.