A nurse tests for hepatitis C at a hospital in France. PHOTO: Francois Nascimbeni/AFP
Timed for World Hepatitis Day on July 28, dozens reportedly marched on (peacefully) to the BBPOM (the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency) office in Denpasar.
On behalf of IKON (the Association of Drug Victims) and Yakeba (Health Foundation of Bali), we come to this peaceful protest to urge the government, in this case BBPOM, to make hepatitis C drugs more available and affordable, Patrician, an action coordinator, told Tribun Bali.
Responding to the activists, Head of Inspection and Investigation for BBPOM Denpasar Eka Ratnata reportedly said his agency will do everything within its power to get hepatitis C treatment more accessible on the island.
Hepatitis C is not to be ignored, as Indonesia reportedly has one of the highest rates of viral hepatitis in Southeast Asia and a Jakarta Globe report in 2013 cited as many as 28 million people as living with the virus.
There’s not yet a vaccine for hep C, so shortages of effective medicine can be fatal for those who end up with the liver disease, making it a serious public health threat in the country.
