Free hepatitis C treatment centre opens at Astore DHQ Hospital
Commissioner Diamer-Astore Division Azeemullah Khan inaugurated the centre and said hepatitis C treatment, usually expensive for ordinary families, will now be free.
ASTORE: A centre for the diagnosis, screening and free treatment of hepatitis C opened at the District Headquarters Hospital in Astore on 13 November, with Commissioner Diamer-Astore Division Azeemullah Khan inaugurating the facility during a visit to the district.
The centre was set up under a special initiative of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and will provide free hepatitis C tests, medical examinations, treatment and essential medicines, according to UrduPoint, which reported the inauguration.
Azeemullah Khan visited the hospital with Deputy Commissioner Astore Neelam Ali and Assistant Commissioner Headquarters Muhammad Shoaib Ahmed. He inspected several departments, met patients admitted there to ask about their health, and sought information on the medical facilities being provided to them.
Speaking to the media at the hospital, the commissioner said hepatitis C is a serious disease that can pose major health risks if it is not diagnosed and treated in time. He appreciated the prime minister's initiative to provide free medical facilities to hepatitis C patients through government health centres.
He said screening, diagnostic tests, treatment and medicines were being provided free of charge under the programme. Treatment for hepatitis C is generally expensive and often difficult for ordinary citizens to afford, he said, and the government had now made these facilities available at no cost.
Azeemullah Khan urged the people of Astore to use the facility and get themselves examined and tested for hepatitis C. He said disease prevention, timely diagnosis and the provision of quality healthcare to the public were among the government's priorities.
The commissioner directed the medical staff to ensure better healthcare services for patients visiting the hospital and to take effective measures to raise public awareness about hepatitis C so that more people could benefit from the free treatment. Hospital administration and medical staff were present at the inauguration.
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