Punjab govt has no funds for hepatitis patients

A large number of hepatitis C patients are suffering because of a shortage of vaccination in public hospitals, Pakistan Today has learnt. Hospitals have refused to provide free treatment before the upcoming budget. Federal government officials claim that around 8 to 10 percent of the country’s population is affected by various forms of hepatitis including A, B, C, D and E.
On the other hand, healthcare organisations claim that around 20 percent of the country’s population is affected by hepatitis. According to these percentages, more that 40 million people are directly suffering from hepatitis. The Punjab Health Department has focused on healthcare facilities in public-sector hospitals, especially in South Punjab, but unfortunately, not a single south Punjab hospital is equipped with a PCR machine and the patients are being referred to Jinnah Hospital where they were charged Rs 3,200 for a PCR genotype test.
Health department sources said Jinnah Hospital had only PCR machine catering for not only more than 10 million population of Lahore but also for half of the province. Sources told Pakistan Today that there is also one machine in Mayo Hospital, which remains packed and has not been functional for a long time now. Sir Ganga Ram Hospital administration did not have any PCR machine and patients are being referred to CAMB, an institution working under the Punjab University.
Dr Mohaiuddin, a senior medical officer, organised a lever care clinic on a self-help basis in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Outpatients Department (OPD). He motivated donors from different organisations to help poor patients and convinced them to run this lever care clinic. Warson Limited provided a counter and furnished two rooms. There were also contributions from Qalamkar but unfortunately the hospital administration not only transferred Dr Mohaiuddin but also removed the names of donors from outside the clinic.
The Prime Minister’s Hepatitis Control Programme and Pakistan Baitul Mal are the two major donor departments which provide vaccination to hepatitis C patients throughout the country while hospitals are not allowed to purchase vaccination even according to contract. The Pakistan Baitul Mal supported around 70 hepatitis C patients in Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital and around 140 patients in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital last year. Around Rs 0.18 million has being spent on one patients’ treatment so far.
Officials suggest the federal government authorise hospitals to purchase hepatitis C vaccinations that every hospital could purchase vaccination as and when required. Government Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital Lever Clinic In-charge Dr Mohaiuddin told Pakistan Today that nearly every third person suffered from hepatitis. He said that the Punjab government should install at least one PCR machine in every second hospital and proper sterilisation methods be adopted in operation theatres so that the number of hepatitis patients could be reduced.
He said that the health department and education department should create awareness among people about hepatitis, especially C. He said barber shops, quacks and local “chaska” shops are the main source of spreading hepatitis C. Mohaiuddin said that a number of patients die due to lack of proper treatment at initial stages and most patients die with chronic lever and lever failure.
An official from a public-sector hospital told Pakistan Today that the PCR test machine for hepatitis C patients could be purchased for Rs 3.5 million but the Punjab government’s interest could be shown from the fact that it purchased a bullet proof car worth Rs 25 million but did not have funds to purchase a test machine for poor patients.
Jinnah Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Afzal Shaheen told Pakistan Today that the hospital administration was trying to provide free medical and test facility to every patient, but a lack of funds had created hurdles for poor patients. He said that Jinnah Hospital was one of those particular institutions which not only provided the PCR test facility but also free vaccination to patients but due to lack of funds, the hospital administration was not in a position to provide a free PCR test facility to patients.
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Ijaz Sheikh told Pakistan Today that the hospital was trying its best to provide the free test facility to patients, especially hepatitis C patients, but funds shortage had created a problem for poor patients and the hospital administration. He said that the hospital administration had signed an agreement with CAMB laboratory to do PCR tests for its hepatitis C patients.