Absence of SOP puts Hepatitis treatment in disarray
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 02 2019: Several quarters who are working in the field of drug related issues are peeved by the absence of a State specific Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment of drug related health problems in the State.

Even though a State specific SOP was formulated following concerted efforts of different stakeholders, including specialists a few years back for Hepatitis C prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment for Manipur, the SOP has not been followed till date.

According to Community Network for Empowerment (CONE) president RK Nalinikanta, absence of a State specific SOP has been causing several inconveniences while accessing Hepatitis C treatment facilities in the State.

He expressed strong discontentment on the failure to adopt any State specific SOP for Hepatitis C in the State while underscoring the importance of implementing a State specific SOP in addressing the issues related with Hepatitis C treatment and prevention in the State.

Even though World Health Organization (WHO) has set a standard protocol for Hepatitis C treatment, some medical practitioners in the State prefer different treatment models for Hepatitis C.The absence of a standard and uniform treatment model in the State has been creating undue inconveniences to many patients.

Once a State specific SOP is adopted, it will be published in the State Gazette and treatment of Hepatitis C by any doctor will come under a uniform model/protocol.

Therefore medical practitioners, specially gastroenterologists would not be permitted to treat patients in their preferred style.

This would also put an end to the problems being encountered by patients while undergoing Hepatitis testing, screening, diagnosis and treatment, he explained.

Nalinikanta who has been working in the field of drug related issues for the past many years also claimed that the adoption of a State specific SOP will bridge any gap that may exist while availing free treatment for Hepatitis C in health care facilities.

Stating that the civil society groups working in the field of drug related issues have a vital role in making viral hepatitis control and prevention programme effective, he maintained that certain High Risk Groups (HRGs) like IDUs, FIDUs and FSWs will not always turn up voluntarily and seek screening, diagnosis and treatment for Hepatitis C by themselves as there is high stigmatization and discrimination of these groups.

Civil society groups need to identify and pursue/convince the HRGs to make them access viral Hepatitis, particularly Hepatitis C testing, screening, diagnosis and treatment facilities, he added.

JNIMS Assistant Professor (gastroenterologist) Dr N Suraj informed that following a State specific SOP for treatment of HCV is applicable even in implementing NVHCP unless the SOP that has to be adopted does not contradict the guidelines given under the NVHCP.

He continued that the State specific SOP formulated by different stakeholders in the State in the past was recommended by a large chunk of stakeholders, including specialists.

Implementing a State specific SOP will go a long way towards implementing the NVHCP effectively in the State, he observed.

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