KARACHI, Dec 3: The Sindh health department will start providing free medical treatment and diagnostic facilities to people under the newly-launched ‘chief minister’s initiative for hepatitis-free Sindh programme’ from January 10, 2009.

The three-year programme will cost Rs2.35 billion to be provided by the provincial government.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the hepatitis control programme’s steering committee with Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmad in the chair held on Wednesday.

The minister directed the programme manager and other officials concerned to extend all possible facilities to people reporting to various centres for registration.

The registered patients in some select districts would be provided test and treatment facilities free of any charge, the meeting was informed.

Under the programme, the department has planned to vaccinate 1.4 million newborns and 245,000 adults against hepatitis B and provide treatment to about 16,600 patients of hepatitis C during the first year.