Residents of Orakzai Agency and Hangu district have threatened to protest if hepatitis C medication is not made available immediately. PHOTO: FILE
HANGU: For the past several months, medicines used to treat hepatitis C have not been available in government hospitals in Hangu district and Orakzai Agency.
Although the Hangu health department has received complaints about the shortage for many months, it cannot do anything about it as the government has yet to provide a fresh supply of medicines, said a health department insider.
District Health Officer Dr Ziaur Rehman said more than 250 patients are on the waiting list to receive the therapeutic drug as they cannot afford to buy them from private stores.
Health officials in Orakzai Agency voiced similar concerns and said the medicines are not readily available at hospitals. According to Agency Surgeon Dr Muhammad Idrees, 35 hepatitis C patients are awaiting treatment because of the drug’s shortage.
Residents of both areas threatened protest against health officials if they fail to provide hepatitis C medication immediately.
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