Ludhiana: Shortage of hepatitis-C medicines hits treatment of new patients

Manav Mander

Ludhiana, March 6

Shortage of hepatitis-C medicine for the past one year has hit the treatment of new patients in the state. A huge gap between the demand and supply is forcing the department to give medicines only to the old patients, while the new patients have been virtually left in the lurch. Nearly 100 patients are waiting to get their treatment started here alone.

According to sources in the department, “Only old patients are being given the medicines. If we start giving medicines to the new patients, then the old patients will be deprived of the same and doing this will create a grave problem as medicine has to be taken in continuity,” he said.

Managing as per availability

Presently, only follow-up patients are being given the medicine. Discontinuation of medicine before the prescribed period can prove fatal for a patient. We are managing as per the availability of medicines. New patients will be given medicines whenever we receive the required supply. — Jasbir Singh Aulakh, Ludhiana Civil Surgeon

Manjeet Singh, a new hepatitis-C patient, said he spent Rs 5,000 to get the viral load test and then he came to know that the government was giving free treatment for the disease.

“I have made four rounds of the Civil Hospital, but every time I go, I am told that medicine is being given only to the old patients. This is delaying my treatment and now I think that I should go for private treatment as it can deteriorate my health,” he said.

Another patient who was unable to avail of the free treatment at the Civil Hospital said his medication cost nearly Rs 15,000-20,000 per month. “The cost of medicines is too high for me to afford. I am also keeping a check with the Civil Hospital so that in case the medicines arrive, he can avail of the free treatment,” he said.

Ludhiana Civil Surgeon Jasbir Singh Aulakh said there was shortage of medicine for hepatitis-C in the state for quite some time.

“Presently, only follow-up patients are being given the medicine. Discontinuation of medicine before the prescribed period can prove fatal for the patient. We are managing as per the availability of medicines. New patients will be given medicines whenever we receive the required supply,” he maintained.

In 2016, Punjab launched Mukh Mantri Punjab Hepatitis-C Relief Fund to provide free medicines to hepatitis-C patients. Later, the Central Government adopted Punjab’s model and implemented it across the country under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme.