Dr. Gamal Esmat, member of the National Committee to Combat Hepatitis C, said that treating patients with the Olysio drug will begin next month, pointing out that the price of the drug in private pharmacies is LE9,500 and in public treatment centers LE1,900.
He said Egypt has agreed with European and US pharmaceutical companies to buy hepatitis C drugs for only 1 percent of the price.
The company producing Olysio said the drug is used in the treatment of the first and fourth types of hepatitis C.
Dr. Esmat also called for laws to prevent the spread of the virus by penalizing anyone who transmits it to another, whether physician or barber, and by penalizing companies that promote drugs without first obtaining approval from the Health Ministry.
He also called for the prevention of discrimination against hepatitis C patients, whether through the denial of jobs, travel or marriage.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
