Cases of hepatitis C on the rise in Sindh, PA told

KARACHI: Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho on Monday told the Sindh Assembly that the cases of hepatitis C were increasing in the province, but the provincial government did not have any shortage of funds to deal with the disease.

While furnishing statement and replies to the lawmakers’ written and oral questions, she said hepatitis C was curable and its treatment took six months.

The health minister said hepatitis B and C were on the rise due to improper injections and added that there was no vaccination for hepatitis C and D.

In reply to a question, she stated that the health department had taken several steps through Sindh T.B control Programme to control the disease.

She said that action had been directed against those who injected medicines in an unsafe manner.

In response to a question, Dr Pechuho said the federal government did not have budget for the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre while the provincial government was spending Rs5 billion annually on that hospital.

The health minister said there was a need for more recruitment in the JPMC after which the budget would increase further.

The health minister said that there were currently 495 diagnostic and treatment centres in public and private sectors at the primary and tertiary level hospitals, including basic health units, where drugs were provided free of cost.