PIL filed for free treatment of Hepatitis C patients

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Sep. 21 (EMN): There is no proper documentation and data on Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in Nagaland but it is said to have become a major health concern in the state over the last couple of years with people infected by the virus being deprived of their rights to access diagnosis and free treatment due to lack of facility coupled with apathy of the state government and its line departments. A few non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have now filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in an aim to check the alarming rise of Hepatitis C patients in the state.
Hepatitis C Virus is a virus belonging to flaviviridae family that causes Hepatitis C, a blood borne-disease that inflames the liver. The disease spreads through contact with infected blood or shared needles and can lead to liver cancer if not treated on time.

The NGOs — Access to Right and Knowledge (ARK) Foundation, Nagaland Users Network (NUN), Hepatitis Coalition of Nagaland (HepCoN) and Network of Naga People Living with HIV/AIDS(NNP+) — on September 18 filed an PIL for free treatment and prevention of (HCV) Hepatitis C Virus, inclusion of HCV in the IEC programme and others related to HCV infection in all the public health institutions in Nagaland state in the Guwahati High Court, Kohima Bench.

The respondents of the PIL include Nagaland state government, department of health and family welfare, Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) and National Health Mission (NHM) State Health Society and others.

ARK president, Ketholelie Angami told reporters at the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) office on Friday that it didn’t get any response from the concerned departments despite filing RTIs and repeated requests for intervention and prevention of Hepatitis-C in the state. He said that the PIL was filed solely in the interest of the people across the state and vulnerable communities who are infected with Hepatitis-C virus especially amongst the Injecting Drug Users (IDU), sex workers, and people living with HIV.

Angami also maintained that it hopes to secure the fundamental right to live with good health for the citizens of the state who are infected with HCV but unable to get treatment due to high cost of drugs and lack of free treatment in the public health centres. He added that NGOs have been conducting series of workshops and literacy programmes across the state to sensitise the people on the need to address this health issue.

It may be mentioned that a study conducted in the year 2006 and 2009 by the Indian Council of Medical Research and Kripa Foundation based on the Integrated Bio Behavioural Assessment (IBBA) in the State of Nagaland found out that Hepatitis C prevalence in the state was 5.4% in round 1 (2006) and 8.7% in round 2 (2009) in Phek district; and 16.7% in round 1 (2006) and 20.8% in round 2 (2009) in Wokha among IDUs.

A study by Nagaland Hospital Authority, Kohima, (recent seven-year report), HCV prevalence among the general population in the state stood at 1.8%, which means that it is not only IDUs or the sex workers who are affected by the virus but also the general masses. In yet another study conducted by NHAK in collaboration with MSD (Merck Sharp and Dohme) Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd in the year 2012-2013 (ten months – from September 2012 to June 2013) reported that of the 728 tested from the general OPD patients, 50 patients were tested antibody reactive projecting a percentage of 6.8%, thus indicating a high rate of infection among the general population.

Kezhosano Kikhi of Human Rights Law Network said that these studies have revealed glaring figure and expressed concern on the possible rate of infection amongst the populace on Nagaland if proper surveillance is done. He said that a PIL was also filed at Guwahati High Court, Kohima Bench in 2008, wherein the Court in its order on August 5, 2011 asked the respondents (state government and others) to include materials on prevention and treatment of Hep C in its Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) programmes, to provide free testing facility at all district ICTC centres across the state and also to provide free Hep C Virus testing and treatment.

In response to the court order, the state government had filed an affidavit dated August 8, 2011, expressing its inability to set up investigation laboratory citing lack of funds. Then the Court directed the state government to take up the matter with the government of India for providing facilities at the earliest and take necessary steps upon receipt of budgetary support.

However, Angami said that the state government had failed to convince the central government, due to which the state was not included in the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme launched by JP Nadda, union minister of Health and Family Welfare. The programme, which will soon be rolled out across the country, is committed to work towards elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030.

The first hearing of the PIL was held on September 20 wherein the judge has issued an order to the government to produce their status within 45 days. It was also informed that the next hearing is scheduled to be held in November.