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Acute shortage of Hepatitis C medicine keeps patients waiting at Ludhiana civil hospital
No new patient registered since February due to the lack of medicine. On a daily basis, approximately 5 to 7 patients, recently diagnosed with hepatitis C, are turned away, leaving them to wait till the medicine supply is replenished
: The city’s civil hospital, centre of free medication for patients battling hepatitis C, is facing an acute shortage of the medicine for the life-threatening disease.
Since February, newly diagnosed patients have been left in anguish as they are unable to access the life-saving treatment in the hospital. On a daily basis, approximately 5 to 7 patients, recently diagnosed with hepatitis C, are turned away, leaving them to wait till the medicine supply is replenished.
This situation also impacts those who have already commenced their treatment, with some being forced to break their course due to the unavailability of medicine.
Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver caused by the Hepatitis C virus. The virus can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis, ranging in severity from a mild illness to a serious, lifelong illness, including liver cirrhosis and cancer.
Sharing her ordeal, a 21-year-old woman (name withheld) , who contracted the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) from her drug-addict husband, said, “My symptoms are worsening, and I have to nurse a baby as well. They are telling me to wait for a month or purchase the course from a private pharmacy, which is beyond my financial means.”
Notably, the cost of the HCV course varies depending on the severity of the condition, ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 per month. In addition to the financial strain, patients are reluctant to go for private treatment as the health records of patients are not updated on the government portal, a mandatory requirement for HCV cases.
An staff member from the drug store within the civil hospital, on the basis of anonymity, revealed the extent of the crisis, saying, “Since February, no new patient has been registered due to the shortage of medicine. We have received a very limited supply for existing patients, but it is insufficient to cater to all of them, resulting in incomplete courses. In such cases, patients will have to start their course from the beginning as any interruption in medication halts the progress against the virus, bringing it back to square one.”
The official said that by May, there were over a hundred patients eagerly waiting the commencement of their treatment, and this number continues to grow daily by 5 to 7 new additions. Patients with less severe symptoms are advised to wait for the stock to arrive, as not everyone can afford private treatment. However, individuals with aggravated symptoms are urged to initiate their course at private health facilities.
According to the data from the civil hospital, the number of patients testing positive for Hepatitis C has witnessed an alarming rise in recent years. In 2020, the hospital reported 244 cases, a figure that escalated to 487 in 2021. Shockingly, the numbers soared even higher in 2022, reaching a staggering 798 cases. The situation remains critical in the first five months of 2023, with nearly 350 new cases already diagnosed. Also, individuals diagnosed at various other health facilities also turn to the civil hospital for free medication.
Acknowledging the severity of the shortage of the medicine for the disease, civil surgeon Hitinder Kaur said, “We have been receiving limited stock, which has been administered to patients already undergoing treatment to prevent any disruption in their courses. Additionally, I have written to the government, and we are expecting a timely supply to cater to all our patients.”
