Affordable Drugs for Hepatitis C

New Delhi, May 13, 2015: The figures of Hepatitis C affected Indians who could not afford medical treatment are not collected centrally. However, the cost of treatment for Hepatitis C is high for the cases which require treatment. The Government of India has launched a National Programme for prevention and control of viral Hepatitis during 12^thFive Year Plan period under which the activities undertaken, inter alia, are:

1. Laboratory network for laboratory based surveillance of viral hepatitis in different geographical locations of India, in a phased manner.

2. Setting up of one Reference Laboratory at National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi.

3. Training and capacity building of professionals in relevant sectors, like Microbiologists, Laboratory Technicians, data Managers and Field Workers.

4. Laboratory support for outbreak investigation of hepatitis through established network of laboratories.

5. Development of guidelines and creating awareness for prevention and control and treatment of blood borne and water borne hepatitis.

6. Information Education and communications (IEC) for dissemination of information about prevention and control of viral hepatitis.

Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has granted import and marketing permission on 13^th January, 2015 for Sofosubuvir 400 mg tablet (brand name Sovaldi) manufactured by M/s Gilead Science Ltd., to M/s Mylan Pharma Pvt. Ltd. for treatment of chronic Hepatitis C in adults.

Subsequently, CDSCO has also granted permission to manufacture and market Sofosubuvir 400 mg tablet in March, 2015 to Indian manufacturers namely, M/s Hetero Labs. and Natco Pharma. CDSCO has no information about cost of the drug.

The Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.