hepatitis B can be access on program

Hepatitis B is a deadly disease with a high prevalence rate in the Philippines. Studies show that in the Philippines there is a hepatitis B carrier rate of 9%. This means that for every 10 Filipinos, at least one is a carrier of hepatitis B. It is estimated that more than 7.7 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B, of which between 1.1 and 1.9 million are expected to die prematurely from cirrhosis or liver cancer. This causes a chronic hepatitis B infectious diseases more difficult to handle.

There are several reasons for the high burden of hepatitis B in the country. The two main reasons are lack of knowledge of the disease, together with the inability to afford the costly treatment.

The pharmaceutical company Roche sets to help solve the problem. In line with guidance from the government to facilitate access to medicines, Roche has recently launched the Plan Pegassist easy access for patients with hepatitis B. 


Through the Pegassist Easy Access Plan, patients with hepatitis B can have access to the peg-interferon alfa-2a hepatitis treatment medication with discounts up to as much as 50%. "The Pegassist Easy Access Plan socializes the medication discount system. This means, patients who truly cannot afford the medication will get a higher discount accordingly," said Dr. Dennis Dioko, Roche specialty business unit director.
"For patients who are interested to see if they can qualify for discounts through the Pegassist Easy Access Plan, there are several ways to find out. First, if they are seeing a gastroenterologist, their doctor can refer them to the Hepatitis Hotline (718-7620). If they are not currently seeing a doctor, they can call the hotline directly and the hotline can refer them to a gastroenterologist nearest to them for consultation."

According to Dr. Dioko, "After hepatitis B patients call the hotline – manned by the Hepatitis Hotline nurse – and have already been prescribed Peg interferon alfa-2a by their doctors, they will be referred to a financial assessment agency. The financial assessment agency will then conduct an evaluation of the patient to determine the discount rate applicable to the patient. Once the financial assessment has been completed, the agency will decide how much of a discount the patient is eligible to receive. Patients can receive as much as 50% off of the medication."

Hepatitis Nurse Hotline then inform patients of their qualified discount rate. At this point, the nurse will also explain to the patient the details of how you can buy your medicines at the discount rate through the distributor's official plan. 

"In addition to providing discounts on the medication, hepatitis B patients will also be provided with free selected hepatitis B laboratory tests that would have otherwise been very expensive. Tests such as HBV DNA Testing and S-quantification are samples of laboratory tests patients can have access to through the Pegassist Easy Access Plan. The hotline can guide them accordingly on how to avail of these discounted labs," added Dr. Dioko.

The program expects to be able to make treatment and care available to a wider range of patients with hepatitis B and give them the opportunity to get the medication they need. In addition to discounted drugs and laboratory tests at a discount, the line also offers a nursing program that will continue the monitoring of patients throughout the course of treatment. And for patients who wish to pay by credit card, you can choose to pay by installments to make payments even easier on their budgets. 

Hepatitis the silent people Killer

Peter Chan, 55, is what we call a walking miracle. Fall under the percentage of people who no longer have the hepatitis B after suffering several years of infection. He was 30 when she was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B.

"It was only after I read an article about hepatitis in New Straits Times that I had a better understanding of the disease. My father died of liver cancer and my siblings had jaundice at some point or another. Based on the information given in the write-up, I knew I was a likely candidate for hepatitis B.

Although I had no symptoms, I decided to get tested, to be on the safe side, and found that I was infected," says Chan.

Began treatment immediately and at the initial stage, had to inject the same drug daily for several months. After a few years, he moved to the oral medication over a period.Today, Chan is completely free of virus and is testament to the importance of early detection through awareness.
 

"I had to make certain lifestyle changes, like giving up alcohol totally as I didn't want to risk any liver damage," he adds. He goes for regular check-ups and urges everyone to go for hepatitis screening.

"Hepatitis is a silent killer as there are no symptoms. Once the symptoms show, it's too late. So you need to be aware of the disease and go and get yourself tested," he advises.

When you meet C. Chia, will not be able to tell who is a patient with hepatitis C. The 66-year-old is as fit as a fiddle when he enters the interview room. Scheduled to travel to the United States at the end of the day, talks about his journey with hepatitis C. 

"I was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2005. I was shocked because I had gone in for a regular heart examination and came out discovering I had hepatitis C," he relates.

Sometime in 1979, Chia had to have a blood transfusion after suffering from stomach ulcers. Six years later, in 1986, again had a transfusion. He believes that blood transfusions have been the most likely cause of your Proof of hepatitis C hepatitis C were not available worldwide in early 1990.


"By the time I found out I had hepatitis C, it was 20 years later and my liver was already in the early stage of cirrhosis," he says.

He began treatment immediately and six months after completion, Chia was completely cured of the virus. He still undergoes regular blood tests and ultrasound of his liver as advised by his doctor. "I would never have known I had hepatitis C had I not gone for my heart exam. So my message to people out there is to get tested, especially if you are at any risk of getting it. The earlier you get diagnosed, the earlier you can treat it," he advises.