KARACHI, Dec 12: Sindh Health Minister Dr Saghir Ahmed has said that the government has earmarked Rs2.4 billion for a three-year programme aimed at providing free treatment and medicines to hepatitis patients.

Presiding over a meeting of health officials, he said the government had allocated Rs800 million this year out of the funds.

Tenders would be floated for the procurement of PCR machines, vaccines and equipment for health facilities in Larkana and Mirpurkhas districts, he said.

He pointed out that some 7,000 hepatitis patients had so far been registered with the health department, and said that blood screening of these patients was being conducted. He said the government was purchasing medicines and test equipment for 17,000 hepatitis-C patients and 2,000 hepatitis-B patients.

The facility of free treatment of hepatitis would be made available at the Liaquat University and the Dow University on a public-private partnership basis, he said.

He directed the director-general of health to ensure launching of an anti-hepatitis campaign before January 10, 2009.

The health secretary and additional secretary (development) were among those who attended the meeting.—PPI