KARACHI: As many as 6,666 Hepatitis patients have been registered at the Hepatitis Treatment Centre established at the Chandka Medical College Hospital of which 5,353 are infected with Hepatitis C and 1,313 with Hepatitis B. As many as 942 patients of Hepatitis C left the treatment incomplete and 205 of Hepatitis B never returned after getting the first doze. As many 4,372 patients of Hepatitis C completed their treatment along with 830 of Hepatitis B. Dr Rahmatullah Soomro, incharge of the centre told media that treatment of as many as 111 Hepatitis C patients is underway at the centre along with 293 patients of Hepatitis B. According to reliable sources, approximately 200 Hepatitis C patients are waiting to receive their treatment as the required injection interferon is not available at the sentinel site for the last two months for which the demand has been sent to Provincial Program Manager in Hyderabad but so far without any results. These poor patients are therefore running from pillar to post to receive treatment for their ailment which is termed more dangerous than HIV/AIDS. Treatment of Hepatitis D is only available in Hyderabad and all affected patients have to travel there which costs them more than the treatment itself. As many as 387 clinics are working in Larkana district, sources further revealed, which are operated by quacks who are mostly employees of the Health Department. The apex court had ordered the Sindh Health Department to initiate a massive crackdown against these clinics which also commenced in Larkana after which four FIRs were registered against such clinic owners at Waleed police station but the cases are still pending a decision at Civil Judge & Fifth Judicial Magistrate. Therefore, it can be said that the drive started against these unlawful clinics has miserably failed as some hidden administrative hands also asked the health officials to cool down due to which the same clinics have again come up ignoring the healthcare issues. He said: “Another factor which has hit the citizens hard is the running of illegal blood banks which are allegedly involved in selling unscreened blood to the needy poor patients due to which such cases keep on rising. Usage of blades being reused at barber shops and reuse of syringes have also aggravated the situation but those who are responsible for preventing the spread of deadly diseases are keeping mum and have done nothing.” District Health Officer, Abdul Rahman Baloch, was of the view that the major cause of spreading Hepatitis were the clinics of quacks. He said Health Department issued strict instructions to them to start a drive against quacks but some people had filed petitions in the Sindh High Court which was pending a decision. He said he was the focal person at the district level and relevant Taluka Health Officers were responsible on Tehsil level on this issue but they were busy in legally defending themselves. Prof: Wazir Muhammad Shaikh, former Principal, Chandka Medical College and Head of Medicine Department, said: “Disposable syringes are thrown in the dust bins which are reused. Married couples should also take care and if one of them is suffering from Hepatitis, then the other will also get infected with the same disease.”