PESHAWAR: The new injection being administered to patients in Hayatabad Medical Complex and Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar have helped about 30 stroke-hit people to recover, according to doctors.

Both the medical teaching institutions have requested the government to cover the cost of new therapy in Sehat Card Plus programme to ensure provision of smooth services to patients.

Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) purchased the new injection two months back and also received donations to provide the same free of cost to patients. Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) also started the new medical technique for free treatment of patients suffering from stroke.

Dr Asadullah Khan Addozai, an assistant professor at neurology ward of Lady Reading Hospital, said that the injection saved lives of patients and protected them from disabilities caused by stroke.

“Tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) injection is used in hyper acute stroke within three hours to open up clotted artery. It is administered to patients after very careful selection process. So far, results are excellent as all 11 patients are doing well,” he said.

LRH, HMC ask govt to include tissue plasminogen activator injection in Sehat Card Plus programme

He said that stroke survivors came on stretchers and wheelchairs to hospitals but went back healthy for homes without any support. He said that stroke was sudden onset of weakness in limbs or face, which was the most disabling disease of world.

“It causes deaths and disabilities, making patients bed-riddled when not treated in a timely manner. It all depends on how quick a patient is shifted to the hospital and administered the injection, imported from Germany,” he said.

Dr Asadullah, who joined LRH one year ago, has started administered the injections to patients in January this year. He said that the result of patients’ treatment depended on their early arrival at hospital and prompt treatment.

“Currently our cure rate is 100 per cent better than 94 per cent globally. We are also imparting skills to our trainee doctors,” he said. The cost of one vial of injection is Rs80,000 and the dose is calculated at 0.9 mg per kilogram so many patients may need 2 vials and the expenditure is doubled.

“We are requesting the government to include the injections in Sehat Card Plus programme so all the patients could get it,” said Dr Asadullah.

There is no other public sector hospital in the province to administer the injection to patients. Patients are receiving it in Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi and Shifa International Islamabad.

“We give 10 per cent injection directly in vein and the rest in drip slowly over one hour,” he said. He explained that before the administration of injection, CT brain of patient was performed to rule out bleeding.

“The hospital has purchased the injection but patients have to buy it from their own pockets when stock exhausts. There are 20 vials, we have received in donation,” said the neurologist.

He said that patients were discharged from hospital on average after five days, depending on their conditions. LRH had a 14-bed neurology ward where most patients were treated free of cost on Sehat Card Plus, he said.

HMC director Dr Faisal Shehzad told Dawn that they were giving the injection free of cost to poor patients while price was shared by those, who could afford it.

“Some patients have to pay total price and others half or even less. Emergency patients get free treatment,” he added.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2023