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GEORGIAN HEPATITIS C OUTBREAK NOT THREATENING ARMENIA - HEALTH MINISTRY
12:19 24.07.13
Because hepatitis C is the type of disease which is transmitted
from human to human the same way as does HIV/AIDS, its outbreak in
Georgia poses no serious threats to Armenia's population, according
to a health official.
"That's a disease which is transmitted only through blood, as well
as sexually. Therefore that's not the kind of threat that we would
face in case we had an outbreak of measles," Lilit Avetisyan, the
head of the Health Ministry's State Hygiene and Anti-Epidemiological
Surveillance Inspection, told Tert.am.
Citing official reports, Georgia Online earlier said the disease had
beaten an unprecedented record in the country, with 2,000 new cases
being registered every day.
Given, however, that thousands of Armenians visit Georgian resorts
in the summer period, there are no guarantees that they will be
safeguarded against unsafe sex. But the healthcare specialist does not
consider that a big hazard. "The same could be the case with Russia,
Ukraine and the United States," she said, adding that the Georgian
website is not an official source to be considered reliable.
Asked about the hepatitis C rate in Armenia, Avetisyan noted that it
is considerably lower compared to other countries. But she did not
remember exact figures.
The Positive People Armenian Network's findings have found that
hepatitis C is quite widespread in the country. A representative of
the NGO told Tert.am that the Ministry had not properly responded to
their earlier request, saying that they have no statistics about the
disease rate in Armenia.
According to the Armenian HIV/AIDS Prevention Center, the disease was
detected in 12.5% of people who passed immune ferment test and 20%
of those who underwent a Polymerase Chain reaction checkup in the
first quarter of 2013.
According to the Georgian website, the country does not have any state
program for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. But Harutyunyan
said the hepatitis C treatment is far more expensive in Armenia.
"The annual expenses for a radical treatment course is above 16,000
[US] Dollars, so no wonder that only three or four of our patients
have managed to cover their own expenses on their own," she added.
The only organization importing medicines against the disease is
Hoffmann-La Roche Armenian branch. Payments are also required for
diagnostic tests, including those for detecting antibodies (which
cost 12,500 Drams or 30 US Dollars).
"Besides, the Georgian state provides funding for certain groups of its
population, offering free services. And despite the free assistance,
the country receives the required medicine at lower prices than
Armenia. Let me also note that the treatment which costs 160,000
Dollars in Armenia is 2,000 Dollars in Egypt. "
Several Armenian activists will be heading to the Hoffmann-La Roche
Armenian office later today to urge for measures to revise the price
policies for treating hepatitis C.
Armenian News - Tert.am
12:19 24.07.13
Because hepatitis C is the type of disease which is transmitted
from human to human the same way as does HIV/AIDS, its outbreak in
Georgia poses no serious threats to Armenia's population, according
to a health official.
"That's a disease which is transmitted only through blood, as well
as sexually. Therefore that's not the kind of threat that we would
face in case we had an outbreak of measles," Lilit Avetisyan, the
head of the Health Ministry's State Hygiene and Anti-Epidemiological
Surveillance Inspection, told Tert.am.
Citing official reports, Georgia Online earlier said the disease had
beaten an unprecedented record in the country, with 2,000 new cases
being registered every day.
Given, however, that thousands of Armenians visit Georgian resorts
in the summer period, there are no guarantees that they will be
safeguarded against unsafe sex. But the healthcare specialist does not
consider that a big hazard. "The same could be the case with Russia,
Ukraine and the United States," she said, adding that the Georgian
website is not an official source to be considered reliable.
Asked about the hepatitis C rate in Armenia, Avetisyan noted that it
is considerably lower compared to other countries. But she did not
remember exact figures.
The Positive People Armenian Network's findings have found that
hepatitis C is quite widespread in the country. A representative of
the NGO told Tert.am that the Ministry had not properly responded to
their earlier request, saying that they have no statistics about the
disease rate in Armenia.
According to the Armenian HIV/AIDS Prevention Center, the disease was
detected in 12.5% of people who passed immune ferment test and 20%
of those who underwent a Polymerase Chain reaction checkup in the
first quarter of 2013.
According to the Georgian website, the country does not have any state
program for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. But Harutyunyan
said the hepatitis C treatment is far more expensive in Armenia.
"The annual expenses for a radical treatment course is above 16,000
[US] Dollars, so no wonder that only three or four of our patients
have managed to cover their own expenses on their own," she added.
The only organization importing medicines against the disease is
Hoffmann-La Roche Armenian branch. Payments are also required for
diagnostic tests, including those for detecting antibodies (which
cost 12,500 Drams or 30 US Dollars).
"Besides, the Georgian state provides funding for certain groups of its
population, offering free services. And despite the free assistance,
the country receives the required medicine at lower prices than
Armenia. Let me also note that the treatment which costs 160,000
Dollars in Armenia is 2,000 Dollars in Egypt. "
Several Armenian activists will be heading to the Hoffmann-La Roche
Armenian office later today to urge for measures to revise the price
policies for treating hepatitis C.
Armenian News - Tert.am