Mukh Mantri Hepatitis-C Relief Scheme inaugurated

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 21

The Punjab Health Department launched the Mukh Mantri Hepatitis-C Relief Fund for residents of the city here today.

While inaugurating the scheme here today, Civil Surgeon, Dr Pardeep Chawla, said free of cost treatment would be provided to patients. The treatment for Hepatitis C costs Rs 50,000 and tests, too, are subsidised.

Dr Chawla said in order to avail free treatment, patients would have to undergo medical test, which would be conducted by a private laboratory. He added that the government had tied up with a private laboratory for these tests. He said the medical test for ascertaining the Hepatitis-C was also subsidised by 50 per cent.

Patients would be given an oral treatment under a new therapy and its success rate was 50 per cent, he added.

The Civil Surgeon said medical experts had been trained for the Hepatitis C treatment. They would also have tele-medicine link with experts of the PGI, he added.