Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Wednesday said that it is shocking and at the same time alarming that out of 90 hemophiliac patients screened 35 are positive for Hepatitis C virus infection and 4 of them have died.President DAK, Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan in a statement issued said that these hemophiliac patients have contracted this deadly virus because of contaminated fresh frozen plasma (FFP), a blood product, which they receive on demand during bleeding.Blood Banks in valley screen blood and blood products by either card method or enzyme immunoassay which can give false negative results thus blood bank pool is a huge source of hepatitis c virus transmission. The introduction of nucleic acid technology(NAT) for screening blood and blood products in rest parts of the world has prevented transfusion related hepatitis c infection. Hepatitis c virus infection causes cirrhosis of liver, hepatocellular carcinoma and death. These hepatitis c positive hemophiliacs have been denied treatment by government thus depriving them from their fundamental right to which government has an obligation.
There are around 250 hemophiliac patients in the valley and most of them are permanently disabled because of non availability of factor VIII and factor IX in hospitals. These coagulation factors are to be given prophylactic ally rather than on demand to prevent hemophilia related complications. Hemophiliacs can live a normal quality life if coagulation factors are given to them on regular basis.”The statement reads that DAK will file a public interest litigation as it is a colossal human tragedy. Hemophiliacs are victims of government apathy. State has failed in their duty by not providing Medicare services to hemophiliac patients. DAK will claim criminal prosecution to the culprits involved in this heinous crime and compensation to the victims.