PM yet to approve import of latest hepatitis treatment

Officials say top drug watchdog has already cleared the tablets import, price fixed

PESHAWAR: Even though the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has allowed import of latest drugs to treat Hepatitis C, the move is still awaiting approval from the prime minister.

The latest treatment, as per health officials, is said to be so successful that it could treat patients within three months, and that too at a low price, but is still awaiting the final nod from the government.



According to health officials dealing with the Hepatitis Control Programme in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), one in 10 people across the province is considered to be infected by hepatitis. The numbers, according to the officials, is rising since more and more people are coming forward to screen their blood for hepatitis.

They further stated that most people did not know if they were infected since it took at least 30 years to show symptoms, while screening facilities were only available at secondary health facilities.

“Currently we use Sovladi to treat hepatitis C. But since latest treatment has become available, DRAP has allowed [the treatment] but the prime minister’s approval is a must for importing the tablets,” Dr Kalimullah, Head Hepatitis Control Program told The Express Tribune.

“A letter was sent to DRAP on Monday, however the import approval, pending since June, has yet to be signed by the prime minister,” Dr Kalimullah disclosed, adding that the Pakistan Health Research Council has already fixed price for the medicines which could treat patients within three months.

Earlier on Thursday, officials of the K-P health department had termed hepatitis as a silent killer and called it more dangerous than terrorism. Further, officials had said that people should screen their blood before undergoing surgical procedures or marrying to protect those not infected.



In order to control hepatitis cases and protect others, the health department plans to propose that the K-P legislators work on introducing laws which make blood screening mandatory for marriages and for surgical procedures.

Health experts say Pakistan contributes around 80 per cent of the total hepatitis cases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region where it contributes the second highest number of patients after China. Globally, they said, Pakistan was second only to Egypt in the prevalence of hepatitis.

In K-P, most hepatitis cases are reported from districts Swat, Dir Upper, Dir Lower and Hangu. Recently, Tank has become vulnerable for hepatitis B cases.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2017.