With 65% cases, Malwa region worst affected with Hepatitis C

Karam Prakash

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Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 5

With the number of people suffering from Hepatitis C (an infection caused by a virus that attacks the liver) continuing to rise in Punjab it seems that infectious disease is not being tackled properly. Though the Punjab Government started the ‘Mukh Mantri Punjab Hepatitis C Relief Fund’ on June 6, 2016, to eradicate the liver disease, the state has reported 59,781 cases until now from June 7, 2016, as per the Health and Family Welfare Department data.

The Malwa region of the state continues to be worst affected with 38,539 cases, which is 65 per cent of the total cases reported in the state. 

As per the diagnostic count, Sangrur district alone has recorded 7,706 cases, the highest in the state, followed by Faridkot 4,840, Muktsar 4,535 and Moga 4,045 over the span of two years. In fact, Patiala district has 2,438 cases of liver infection.

Experts said Hepatitis C was primarily caused by factors, including unscreened blood during transfusions, unsafe surgical practices, and unsafe therapeutic injections. 

However, in Punjab the main cause of the spread of Hepatitis C is sharing of infected needles by intravenous drug users and blood products. Other risk factors include receiving medical, dental or personal services using contaminated equipment.

Hepatitis C is characterised by fever, fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Last year, the Government of Punjab had slashed the Hepatitis C testing rates by a whopping 50 per cent. The move came after the state government joined hands with Core Diagnostics, India’s leading testing lab. 

The government has reduced prices of diagnostic tests HCV (hepatitis C virus) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) to Rs 881 and Rs 895 respectively. Earlier, these tests used to cost Rs 1,800 each. 

District epidemiologist, Dr Gurmeet said, “Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, has started the ‘Mukh Mantri Punjab Hepatitis C Relief Fund’, which has helped thousands of people suffering from this deadly disease. However, there is a lack of awareness among people about the disease.”

Meanwhile, state programme officer, Dr Gagan Grover, could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Hepatitis C cases as per diagnostic count

• Sangrur district 7,706 cases 
• Faridkot district 4,840 cases 
• Muktsar  district 4,535 cases
• Moga  district 4,045 cases 
• Patiala district 2,438 cases