PESHAWAR, April 19: The federal government will install 150 water treatment plants in hospitals to halt the spread of hepatitis in the country.

“The prime minister’s programme for control and prevention of hepatitis will ensure installation of a total of 150 water treatment plants in hospitals during the next two years,” an official associated with the programme said.

The programme was launched in August 2005.

The five-year programme (2005-10) stresses on preventive methodologies to control the disease for which Rs2.6 billion will be spent, the official said.

About 250 case studies were conducted at premier health institutions of the country which showed that hepatitis B was prevalent among 3-4 per cent of the population, while 5-6 per cent was suffering from hepatitis C. “About 6-7million people have hepatitis B or C or both.