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Punjab CMs Hepatitis C Relief Fund Rekindles A Ray of Hope In The Lives Of 1052 Patients in SBS Nagar

June 06, 2018 05:40 PM

Punjab News Express/Verinder Sareen
NAWANSHAHR: Chief Minister Punjab Hepatitis C Releif Fund has rekindled a ray of hope in the lives of 1054 patients suffering with Hepatitis C. They have been provided with free treatment at District Hospital Nawanshahar successfully.  As many as 1244 patients have been registered and provided the benefit of free treatment, which otherwise is too costly to be afforded by the common man. The patients, who have completed the oral treatment for three months regularly, have been declared fit after conducting a free test after a gap of three months.

Today, at district hospital Nawanshahr, a patient who was diagnosed as a positive case of hepatitis C sometimes back, heaved a sigh of relief as well as visibly elated, when Dr. Guprpal Kataria, MD, who treated her, sounded the words of having no symptom of Hepatitis C, after going through her ‘Viral Load` (advanced test for diagnose of Hepatitis C) test report. Dr. Gurpal recalls those days when she was tested positive with the disease and put on three month long treatment. She was so scared of her disease to narrate, he added.

"She was sensitized that the disease is curable and by maintaining positive will power along with medication, she could get rid of the disease. She responded to his advice and took regular treatment. Now, she has recovered miraculously from the dreaded disease", said Dr. Kataria. A young patient, who has also got conducted his ‘Viral Load` test after having completed successful treatment at district hospital, was also there. He was also quite happy to know that now no symptom of disease was found in the test report.

SMO Nawanshahr Dr. Harvinder Singh told that the treatment of Hepatitis C was very costly, approximately over Rs. 80000 but thanks to the Chief Minister Hepatitis C Relief Fund program, it had been provided free of cost.

A patient who reports with Jaundice, is tested on Elisa and after going through the result of the test report, the patient is further advised for ‘Viral Load` test. Though the test is little bit costly (Rs 5000) but it is conducted at a subsidized fee of Rs. 2200. For this state Health department has tied up with ‘LalPaths`. But the same test that was repeated after three months gap of completion of treatment is totally free, said the SMO.

Dr. Kataria who is also the Nodal Officer for the treatment of Hepatitis C, says that line of treatment is quite simple. The patient is given oral treatment for 28 days and finding him responding the treatment, another dose for 28 days each is given for next two months. The patient also gets facility of round the clock helpline number to keep in touch with the doctor, in case of any problem.

No casuality has been reported during the undergoing treatment of the patients here, he further added.

Describing the symptoms of the disease which lead to hepatitis C, District Epidemiologist, Dr. Jagdeep adds that Jaundice with fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, Stomach pain and Nausea etc.  He said that so far 1052 patients had completed treatment successfully and cure rate is 85 percent.

Photo Caption: Dr. Gurpal examining the Patient Rajni Devi who has undergone treatment of Hepatitis C Sucessfully.

 

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