ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar said on Wednesday the government was taking concrete measures against hepatitis which was increasing in the country.
Replying to a question in the Senate she said according to the national hepatitis survey, the prevalence of HCV was 1.1 percent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while in Punjab it was 6.7 percent followed by 5.0 percent in Sindh and 1.5 percent in Balochistan.
She said the prevalence of HCV was increasing all over the country and the government had taken measures including registration of Sovaldi, Implementation of Infection Control, Campaign in 4 high hepatitis districts named Hangu, Swat Upper Dir and Lower Dir.
She said these measure also included formulation of Technical Advisory Group on prevention and control of viral hepatitis, development of national hepatitis strategy, development of HCV Treatment Guidelines and awareness campaigns.
She said 4232 patients were treated for HCV and 1526 were treated for HBV during 2015.
