Hepatitis vaccination campaign launched

Premier super speciality hospital Institute of Liver and Billary Sciences today launched a hepatitis vaccination campaign here to combat the spread of the disease.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia launched the campaign which has been organised to commemorate the World Hepatitis Day.
Director of ILBS Shiv Sarin said the campaign -- Hepatitis Awareness Assistance and Treatment Suport -- is aimed at brining down the cases of hepatitis infection as well as to impart knowledge to people about its prevention and cure.
Under the initiative, the hospital will also provide free screening and offer subsidised treatment to hepatitis-affected patients.

Speaking on the occcasion, Sarin rued the "absence" of any specific planning by the government to contain hepatitis infection in the country.
In a statement, the hospital said the inititive is also aimed at brining down the cost of the treatment.
It said currently the treatment for the disease is expensive as a patient ends up spending more than Rs 5 lakh a year for the treatment of Hepatitis C infection and almost Rs 3 to 4 lakhs for treatment of Hepatitis B infection.
The World Hepatitis Day is celebrated world over on July 28.