Docs attend workshop on Hepatitis C care

The Health Department, Punjab, in collaboration with the PGI and the Indian National Association for Study of Liver (INASL) organised a capacity-building workshop on Hepatitis C care in the state here today. The workshop aimed at sensitising and capacity building of medical specialists across the state in handling Hepatitis C virus (HCV) cases.  Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, who inaugurated the workshop, said oral drugs had replaced injections as the treatment of HCV and were safe and effective. “The cost and duration of the treatment has also been reduced significantly with introduction of oral drugs,” she said. The ultimate objective of the workshop was to treat patients at district-level government health institutions so as to reduce the HCV patient load at the PGI, Chandigarh, she added. Hussan Lal, Secretary, Medical Education and Research, Punjab; Dr Yogesh Chawla, Director PGIMER, Chandigarh; and Dr VA Saraswat, HOD, Hepatology, Sanjay Gandhi PGIMS, Lucknow, also attended the workshop. Dr Yogesh Chawla assured that the PGI would extend full technical support required in testing and treatment of Hepatitis C at district hospitals in Punjab. — TNS