More than 45,000 patients with Hepatitis C virus have been treated at the expense of the state with an estimated cost of 270,000 EGP ($35,000) Youm7 quoted an official source Monday.
The government is currently manufacturing Hep C medicines instead of importing them, and delivering the local versions to liver centers, pharmacies and health insurance centers to be available at reduced prices.
It was recently announced that thousands of locally-made medicines to cure Hep C, Sovaldi and Daklinza, will be soon shipped to health insurance centers, in addition to providing the centers with Hepatitis “B” medicines to start treated patients via the state’s insurance system within two months.
Hospitals that work under the Health Insurance Authority have been supported by new medical equipment with 38.5 million EGP, the source told Youm7.
Construction and renewal works at the hospitals were carried out at estimated 182.9 million EGP in different governorates including: Cairo, Alexandria, Beheira, Banha, Damietta, Kafr el-Sheikh, Beni Suef and Sharqia.
A total of four new nursing institutes were opened in Aswan, Qena, Damietta and Menoufia, to provide the hospitals with nursing services, the source added.
According to the State Information Service website, approximately 50 percent of the population is covered by basic government health insurance, 30 percent enrolled in private health insurance plans and 20 percent of Egyptians have no health insurance.
