Two more Hepatitis C drugs now available for free at Delhi govt hospitals

NEW DELHI: Soon, patients suffering from Hepatitis C will be able to avail two crucial drugs free of cost at Delhi government-run hospitals, Delhi Health minister Satyendar Jain said on Monday.

Speaking at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), on the occasion of the 20th Hepatitis Day, Jain stated that of the four drugs available for treating the disease, two are already being provided free of cost by the city government.

He underlined the Delhi government's commitment in fighting hepatitis infection and said that the government would cooperate with institutions, like ILBS, to promote the health and well being of the people of Delhi.

The minister also requested citizens to improve their own health awareness.

Dr SK Sarin, Director, ILBS, reiterated that only children can make a difference in the understanding of Hepatitis B, and expressed regret that children get this disease from their mothers for no fault of theirs.

Sarin exhorted the audience to "be aware and make aware", and take a pledge to get every newborn vaccinated. He also requested the government to make Hepatitis a notifiable disease and stop discrimination of the infected.

The health minister also inaugurated state-of-the-art Mobile Liver Screening Van and Healthy Liver Healthy Delhi Project.

Launched under the project titled 'Healthy Liver Healthy Delhi', the liver screening van aims to raise awareness about Hepatitis.

The van will be equipped with Fibroscan, a test that assesses stiffness the of liver without the need for skin invasion.

The van will also collect blood from willing people for liver screening tests for Hepatitis B and C and other parameters associated with liver diseases. All these tests will be done free of cost and the public will not have to pay even for registration with the van.