<p>The thalassaemia patients, who require regular transfusion of blood, are currently admitted at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) here.<br /><br />“There are around 30 thalassaemic patients who were given infected blood at various blood banks across the state. They have tested positive for Hepatitis C during the screening examination conducted at DMCH recently,” in-charge of the thalassaemia wing of the hospital, Praveen Sobti, said.<br /><br />“The union health ministry has made it mandatory for blood banks to conduct Hepatitis C tests of blood donors. But many people do not adhere to the rules. We are trying our level best to treat the 30 patients, who are between 5 to 26 years. Hepatitis C virus causes damage to the liver,” Sobti added.<br /><br />According to DMCH officials, the patients were administered infected blood in various parts of the state, including Jalandhar, Moga, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Faridkot and Amritsar.<br /><br />“Monthly expense for the treatment of a thalassaemic patient go up to Rs.4,000. However, treatment of Hepatitis C for a thalassaemic patient would cost above Rs.2 lakh. We are contacting various NGOs and pharmaceutical companies and seeking their help,” a DCMH official said.<br /><br />Ludhiana, the industrial hub of Punjab, is around 100 km away from state capital Chandigarh.</p>
<p>The thalassaemia patients, who require regular transfusion of blood, are currently admitted at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) here.<br /><br />“There are around 30 thalassaemic patients who were given infected blood at various blood banks across the state. They have tested positive for Hepatitis C during the screening examination conducted at DMCH recently,” in-charge of the thalassaemia wing of the hospital, Praveen Sobti, said.<br /><br />“The union health ministry has made it mandatory for blood banks to conduct Hepatitis C tests of blood donors. But many people do not adhere to the rules. We are trying our level best to treat the 30 patients, who are between 5 to 26 years. Hepatitis C virus causes damage to the liver,” Sobti added.<br /><br />According to DMCH officials, the patients were administered infected blood in various parts of the state, including Jalandhar, Moga, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Faridkot and Amritsar.<br /><br />“Monthly expense for the treatment of a thalassaemic patient go up to Rs.4,000. However, treatment of Hepatitis C for a thalassaemic patient would cost above Rs.2 lakh. We are contacting various NGOs and pharmaceutical companies and seeking their help,” a DCMH official said.<br /><br />Ludhiana, the industrial hub of Punjab, is around 100 km away from state capital Chandigarh.</p>