400,000 Hepatitis C sufferers can now get affordable drug at all government state hospitals

Right to get treatment: It was reported last year that there were 400,000 Hepatitis C sufferers in Malaysia, with only a fraction who could afford the RM300,000 cost. — AFP
Big pharma against CL move but WHO agrees
NATION
Friday, 2 Mar 2018
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s bold move to impose compulsory licence (CL) on the drug sofosbuvir has been heavily criticised by big pharmaceutical companies, but has the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO). WHO advocates universal health coverage and that means access to life-saving treatment, said its head of mission and representative to Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore Dr Lo Ying-Ru. She said Malaysia, in wanting to provide universal health coverage with limited funding, had decided to make sofosbuvir available for its healthcare systems. Asked how WHO views the pressures Malaysia is facing after issuing a CL for the generic version of sofosbuvir, Dr Lo said: “I understand the Malaysian Government is adhering to the World Trade Organistion’s TRIPs (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) agreement. “It is a global agreement which all should respect.” … for more, go to https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/03/02/big-pharma-against-cl-move-but-who-agrees/

400,000 Hepatitis C sufferers can now get affordable drug at all government state hospitals

Kudos to the Health Ministry. Some 400,000 Hepatitis C sufferers are set to benefit from affordable medicine after the federal government imposed a compulsory licence (CL) on the drug sofosbuvir.

The combination of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir is now available in all government state hospitals.

“This is a truly caring move by the federal government,” Gerakan Deputy Speaker Syed Abdul Razak Alsagoff said.

He said the federal government deserved praise for going against the greedy and profiteering agenda of big pharmaceutical companies who had heavily criticised the CL imposition of the drug.

“This is a public health matter. There are some 400,000 Hepatitis C sufferers and the drug gives hope to the sufferers to recover and possibly prevent the spread of the disease,” he added.

500,000 people may have Hepatitis C
By THARANYA ARUMUGAM - July 21, 2017 @ 10:48am
KUALA LUMPUR: HALF a million of Malaysians are estimated to have Hepatitis C, which if left untreated can be fatal or lead to liver cancer or cirrhosis. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said what was worrying was that many were unaware if they had been infected with the virus due to lack of awareness.
Calling it a major challenge in the medical field, he said Hepatitis C incidence rates (IR) saw an increase from 3.71 per cent in 2009 to 8.57 last year. Although all newborns receive free Hepatitis B vaccines since 1989, he said the IR of Hepatitis B increased from 2.13 per cent in 2009 to 12.6 last year. “The Hepatitis B immunisation shot has proven to be somewhat effective, with a 95 per cent coverage rate. “Adults may want to get booster doses of Hepatitis B vaccine (recommended in certain circumstances),” he said. Dr Subramaniam cautioned that the increased prevalence of chronic Hepatitis B and C meant that more people would end up with cirrhosis and liver cancer … for more, go to https://www.nst.com.my/news/exclusive/2017/07/259334/500000-people-may-have-hepatitis-c

Syed Razak, who is Gerakan nominee to contest N.37 Bukit Lanjan in the coming 14th General Election (GE14), said the federal govenment had also received support from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“WHO head of mission and representative to Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore Dr Lo Ying-Ru had reportedly said WHO advocates universal health coverage and that means access to life-saving treatment.

“Our federal government has thus made an absolutely caring decision for Malaysians. The generic drug are now available at all government state hospitals,” he added.

Syed Razak said he hoped the federal government, would in future “make more of such bold and daring decisions demi rakyat dan negara (for the people and country).

Here’s the news of hope for Hepatitis C patients as posted by The Star Online:

"Hope for Hepatitis C patients

NATION
Friday, 2 Mar 2018
by loh foon fong

KUALA LUMPUR: Two months after Malaysia received world recognition for taking steps to provide affordable medicine for Hepatitis C sufferers, it is learnt that 18 state hospitals are ready to roll out the treatment, with up to 400,000 patients likely to benefit.

This access to the affordable medicine comes after the Government issued a compulsory licence (CL) to import or produce the generic versions of sofosbuvir – one of the drug combinations used for Hepatitis C treatment.

The combination of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir is now available in all government state hospitals.

It used to cost RM300,000 for a full course treatment. With the Government initiative, it now costs around RM1,000.

Malaysia is the first country in the world to invoke CL for importing or producing the generic version of sofosbuvir.

It was reported in January that the country received the Leadership Award in Intellectual Property and Access to Medicines for being the first to do so.

A source from the company appointed to import sofosbuvir through CL, Pharmaniaga Marketing Sdn Bhd, said the generic version of the drug was delivered to the Health Ministry last week while daclatasvir had been sent earlier.

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) South-East Asia regional office head Jean-Michel Piedagnel said Malaysia was leading the world in Hepatitis C treatment access.

DNDi is an international non-profit drug research and development organisation.

“We need more of such leadership to tackle the disease,” said Piedagnel.

The contagious liver disease results from infection with the Hepatitis C virus and spreads through contact with the blood of an infected person.


Hepatitis C patient Shahrull Azuar Ahmad (pic), 48, a father of four, said he was grateful to the Government for providing affordable access to Hepatitis C treatment.

Shahrull, a former drug user, said he started using intravenously when he was 18, but stopped in 2000.

In 1995, he was found to have a Hepatitis C infection. At the time, his liver was still all right and he did not need any treatment.

But after more than 20 years, he said his liver has suffered some damage.

Shahrull said he had been going for a regular check-up since 2003 and was waiting for treatment but, like many other Hepatitis C patients, did not pursue treatment with the older drug interferon because of severe side effects such as fever, depression and fatigue.

After hearing about the new drug combination, which has fewer side effects and a high cure rate, he said he was keen to seek treatment but could not afford it.

“I have been waiting for these new drugs.

“Many Hepatitis C patients have hoped the Government would provide the treatment,” said Shahrull, who is also the chairman of Pahang-based Karisma, an NGO dealing with drug problems and HIV/AIDS, which he set up with his wife Norazatul Shima Nordin, 44, two years ago."

N.37 LET BUKIT LANJAN SOAR WITH SYED ABDUL RAZAK ALSAGOFF