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UPROAR OVER HEPATITIS OUTBREAK IN ARMENIA
Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
IWPR Caucasus Reporting #767
Feb 20 2015
Government blamed after patients contracted the disease while
undergoing routine operations.
By Gayane Lazarian
Medical experts in Armenia have criticised the authorities for their
handling of an outbreak of hepatitis C at a health centre in the city
of Kajaran which has seen 15 people contract the virus.
Hepatitis C is commonly transmitted by blood transfusions or by unsafe
medical procedures, particularly the use of unsterilised instruments.
Early signs suggest that all 15 patients contracted the virus from
contaminated instruments.
A total of 191 people underwent operations at the Kajaran health
centre in 2014, so 15 infections represents nearly eight per cent. Dr
Ara Asoyan, Armenia's chief epidemiologist, told IWPR that it was
possible more people had contracted the virus.
"We are carrying out blood tests to find out who has been infected,"
he said.
One of those infected is Kajaran resident Marine Lazarian, who had
an appendectomy late last year.
"About 40 days after the operation, I became nauseous and started
vomiting," she said. "I sought medical advice. At the Yerevan
infectious diseases hospital I found out that I was infected."
In December, specialists at the National Centre for Disease Control and
Prevention discovered that staff at the Kajaran hospital were using
unsterilised surgical instruments, and found traces of the virus on
some of them. They identified shortcomings in the sterilisation and
disinfection of instruments right across the centre's departments,
including the surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology.
The authorities in the Syunik region have launched a criminal
investigation for breaches of health rules and safety standards. The
medical centre is currently closed while the investigation is carried
out. It will then be up to the Armenia's courts whether to revoke
the centre's licence.
This is not the first time this has happened at the Kajaran health
centre. Two years ago, major hygiene problems were reported at the
centre when it opened a new wing. Things have not improved since then.
On January 22, Health Minister Armen Muradyan told journalists that
the government would meet the costs of treating anyone infected with
hepatitis C at the hospital.
"With modern medicine, hepatitis C is curable," he said. "This disease
can be life-threatening only if it is diagnosed late or if it isn't
treated properly. However, all doctors must be held accountable for
mistakes and shortcomings, as any kind of infection can be fatal."
The 15 people with hepatitis C are now receiving treatment in hospitals
in Kajaran, Kapan and Yerevan. Nine are being kept in and the rest
are outpatients.
The drugs used to treat hepatitis C - Ribavirin and Pegylated
Interferon - cost between 5,000 and 20,000 US dollars for the course
that is required.
Despite the government's reassurances, those who have contracted the
virus remain worried about meeting the costs of treatment.
Vahan Petrosyan contracted the disease after treatment for varicose
veins. After hearing of other cases in the town, he went for a test
and found out he had hepatitis C.
"I've already spent 300,000 drams [more than 600 dollars] on treatment
of a disease I contracted through no fault of my own," he said. "I've
paid for tests, medication, transportation costs to Yerevan, and I
don't know who's going to compensate me for that."
In addition to free treatment, the authorities have promised to
consider paying compensation. However, Deputy Health Minister Vahan
Poghosyan told IWPR that the exact amount on offer would not be
decided until after the authorities had completed their investigation.
Anahit Harutyunyan, who heads Positive People Armenian Network, an
NGO that works on infectious diseases, said there was no national
programme for dealing with hepatitis C. Her organisation has written
to the health ministry with a proposal to develop a programme modelled
on existing national systems for combating tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
Deputy Health Minister Poghosyan says health officials are drafting
new procedural policies that will be soon be implemented on the ground.
Gayane Lazarian is a correspondent for the ArmeniaNow online news
site.
https://iwpr.net/global-voices/uproar-over-hepatitis-outbreak-armenia
From: A. Papazian
Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
IWPR Caucasus Reporting #767
Feb 20 2015
Government blamed after patients contracted the disease while
undergoing routine operations.
By Gayane Lazarian
Medical experts in Armenia have criticised the authorities for their
handling of an outbreak of hepatitis C at a health centre in the city
of Kajaran which has seen 15 people contract the virus.
Hepatitis C is commonly transmitted by blood transfusions or by unsafe
medical procedures, particularly the use of unsterilised instruments.
Early signs suggest that all 15 patients contracted the virus from
contaminated instruments.
A total of 191 people underwent operations at the Kajaran health
centre in 2014, so 15 infections represents nearly eight per cent. Dr
Ara Asoyan, Armenia's chief epidemiologist, told IWPR that it was
possible more people had contracted the virus.
"We are carrying out blood tests to find out who has been infected,"
he said.
One of those infected is Kajaran resident Marine Lazarian, who had
an appendectomy late last year.
"About 40 days after the operation, I became nauseous and started
vomiting," she said. "I sought medical advice. At the Yerevan
infectious diseases hospital I found out that I was infected."
In December, specialists at the National Centre for Disease Control and
Prevention discovered that staff at the Kajaran hospital were using
unsterilised surgical instruments, and found traces of the virus on
some of them. They identified shortcomings in the sterilisation and
disinfection of instruments right across the centre's departments,
including the surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology.
The authorities in the Syunik region have launched a criminal
investigation for breaches of health rules and safety standards. The
medical centre is currently closed while the investigation is carried
out. It will then be up to the Armenia's courts whether to revoke
the centre's licence.
This is not the first time this has happened at the Kajaran health
centre. Two years ago, major hygiene problems were reported at the
centre when it opened a new wing. Things have not improved since then.
On January 22, Health Minister Armen Muradyan told journalists that
the government would meet the costs of treating anyone infected with
hepatitis C at the hospital.
"With modern medicine, hepatitis C is curable," he said. "This disease
can be life-threatening only if it is diagnosed late or if it isn't
treated properly. However, all doctors must be held accountable for
mistakes and shortcomings, as any kind of infection can be fatal."
The 15 people with hepatitis C are now receiving treatment in hospitals
in Kajaran, Kapan and Yerevan. Nine are being kept in and the rest
are outpatients.
The drugs used to treat hepatitis C - Ribavirin and Pegylated
Interferon - cost between 5,000 and 20,000 US dollars for the course
that is required.
Despite the government's reassurances, those who have contracted the
virus remain worried about meeting the costs of treatment.
Vahan Petrosyan contracted the disease after treatment for varicose
veins. After hearing of other cases in the town, he went for a test
and found out he had hepatitis C.
"I've already spent 300,000 drams [more than 600 dollars] on treatment
of a disease I contracted through no fault of my own," he said. "I've
paid for tests, medication, transportation costs to Yerevan, and I
don't know who's going to compensate me for that."
In addition to free treatment, the authorities have promised to
consider paying compensation. However, Deputy Health Minister Vahan
Poghosyan told IWPR that the exact amount on offer would not be
decided until after the authorities had completed their investigation.
Anahit Harutyunyan, who heads Positive People Armenian Network, an
NGO that works on infectious diseases, said there was no national
programme for dealing with hepatitis C. Her organisation has written
to the health ministry with a proposal to develop a programme modelled
on existing national systems for combating tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
Deputy Health Minister Poghosyan says health officials are drafting
new procedural policies that will be soon be implemented on the ground.
Gayane Lazarian is a correspondent for the ArmeniaNow online news
site.
https://iwpr.net/global-voices/uproar-over-hepatitis-outbreak-armenia
From: A. Papazian