ArmInfo. As part of the national hepatitis C treatment program, the first batch of drugs arrived in Armenia. Head of the RA Ministry of Health Arsen Torosyan said this on his Facebook page.
As noted, the first batch is designed for 500 patients, and was purchased with state budget funds. The batch was supposed to enter the republic in early spring, but was late due to restrictions on air traffic in connection with the coronavirus. <RA citizens will receive treatment for hepatitis C according to registration in the queue, as well as medical indications. This year, medicines will be purchased for another 1,000 people. The program aims to completely eliminate this infectious disease>, the Minister said, adding that additional information will be provided later.
Earlier it was reported that since 2020, about 1,000 hepatitis C patients will be provided with free medicines annually in Armenia. Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus.
Virus transmission can occur with injecting drug use, unsafe injecting practices, unsafe medical practices, transfusion of unverified blood and its products, and sexual intercourse that leads to contact with blood.
According to the World Health Organization, over 70 million people worldwide suffer from chronic hepatitis C infection. According to WHO, hepatitis C is a major cause of liver cancer.