Dengue treatment prices skyrocket as demand rises

Mega units used to treat those with a severe version of the virus are not available at government hospitals

KARACHI:

As thousands fall prey to rapidly spreading mosquito borne viral diseases, hospitals in Karachi are full to the brim, pharmacies are out of regular painkillers, and now those with serious dengue related complications are paying an arm and a leg for mega units.

Platelet apheresis, commonly referred to as a mega unit, is administered to patients with severe dengue to bring their blood platelets to a normal level so that they can fight the disease. As dengue cases have gone up, so has the demand for mega units; however, since supplies are short, prices have skyrocketed.

Muhammad Imtiaz, whose wife has dengue, has been to nearly every government hospital in the city in search of mega units for his spouse’s treatment but has been turned away. “I went to Jinnah Hospital, Civil Hospital, and Liaquatabad Hospital but was informed by the management that the special machines that make mega units are not installed in the hospital.”

The hospital staff suggested that Imtiaz contact private blood banks; which he did but the prices quoted left him in a state of shock. “The blood banks asked for Rs 35,000 and 6 blood donors, to produce a single mega unit,” Imtiaz informed, adding that the machine that makes mega units takes up to 4 to 5 hours to produce a single unit.

“Since my wife was critically ill, I had to call my friends and family to help out but not everyone is in the same boat or has that luxury.” Imtiaz was of the view that the Sindh government had left the residents to fend for themselves. “They should at least instruct every hospital to ensure the supply of platelets and mega units during the dengue virus season.”

Professor Dr Saeed Khan, Head of Dow University’s Molecular Lab, agrees. “Mega units should be more accessible because when the virus enters the system, it binds to platelets and replicates. This forces the infected platelets to destroy normal platelets, which results in a low platelet count while the body is battling with fever.”

As per Dr Khan, the normal platelet count in humans is between 150,000 to 400,000 but platelets of patients with severe dengue fall below 100,000. “This fall causes hemorrhagic fever and can result in death if not treated promptly and properly,” the professor explained while highlighting the importance of mega units. He further said that those with hemorrhagic fever will have symptoms like skin bleeding, nose or gums bleeding, and internal bleeding.

“These patients with severe bleeding will require prophylactic platelet transfusions. So to avoid dengue getting severe, patients should immediately consult a doctor and use the prescribed medicines instead of at home treatments,” suggested Dr Khan while talking to The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2022.