In view of rising numbers of patients of Hepatitis-C, the state government has set up a dedicated primary nodal centre in Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma PGIMS here to provide better medical treatment for patients of Hepatitis-C free of cost.
The Centre would be run at Gastroenterfology Department of the PGIMS under the chairmanship of Dr Praveen Malhotra, an eminent Gastroenterologist, who has been assigned the duty of its Nodal Officer by the state government. Interestingly, the Centre would not only treat the patients of Hepatitis-C but also impart a special training to the doctors about modern treatment of the ailment besides precautions that may be adopted by the people to protect from this fatal disease.
As per the PGIMS authorities, Haryana is the first state of the nation where such separate and dedicated centre has been started. Initially, patient suffering from chronic Hepatitis-C belonging to BPl category of three districts- Jind, Kaithal and Fatehabad- will be treated free of cost and later on this scheme will be extended to other areas as well.
“The three districts have been selected on the basis of survey carried out by Community Medicine Department. The survey found maximum patients suffering from Chronic Hepatitis-C belong to Jind, Kaithal and Fatehabad districts,” said Dr Chand Singh Dhull, Director of the PGIMS. While interacting with media persons, Dr Praveen Malhotra said “We have begun imparting special training to a 12-member-team of doctors about treatment of the chronic Hepatitis-C patients. The team is gaining valuable practical experiences about treatment of the ailment and the patients.” He stated that Hepatitis-C has been spreading at rapid rate in Haryana. He has, till now treated over 170 patients of Chronic Hepatitis-C successfully.