Hepatitis screening available free of charge

BANGKOK, July 20 (TNA) – The Ministry of Public Health will offer Hepatitis screening at public hospitals free of charge to mark the World Hepatitis Day, which falls on July 28. Deputy permanent secretary for Public Health, Dr Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai said that the ministry launched a campaign to screen the Hepatitis virus for the public from July 31 to August 4 at all 104 hospitals under its administration. Dr Suwanchai said the Hepatitis infections could show no symptoms but if left untreated for long periods, it can lead to a life threatening liver cancer In Thailand, most patients with Hepatitis B and C are found in the North and the Northeast or about eight per cent of the populations in the regions have Hepatitis B and about four per cent have Hepatitis C. It can be said that one in 12 people are suffering from Hepatitis. According to the World Health Organization, more than 325 million people around the world are infected with Hepatitis B and C and about 1.34 million Hepatitis patients die each year. (TNA)