Hepatitis C treatment : The Minsanté reduces the price of the drug by 50%.

This is the substance of a press release signed on 03 May 2023, by the Minister of Public Health, Manaouda Malachie.

Divine KANANYET

The price of Sofosbuvir/Ledispavir 400/90mg Cp B/26, a drug used in the treatment of hepatitis C, has been considerably reduced by 50% since 3 May 2023. The price has been reduced from 50,000 FCFA to 25,000 francs. According to the press release from the Minister of Public Health, this price reduction aims to make hepatitis C treatment drugs more accessible. To this effect, Manaouda Malachie also committed all the staff of the Approved Treatment Centres and dispensing centres for the treatment of viral hepatitis as well as all the staff of the health pyramid
involved in the fight against viral hepatitis to ensure that the greatest number of patients can benefit from it. This means that health personnel must ensure that as many patients as possible can benefit from this reduction. In addition, the Minsanté calls on people suffering from viral hepatitis
to go to the nearest approved treatment centre for adequate and effective treatment. According to the health authorities,
the reduction in cost is mandatory and immediate in the 14 approved treatment centres (CTA) and dispensing centres (CD). It should be noted that this reduction is part of the improvement of access to treatment against viral hepatitis and is based on available stocks of drugs. However, this is not the first time that the authorities have come to the bedside to make treatment more accessible to the greatest number. Already in 2018, the protocol was reduced from 30,000 to 280,000 FCFA to 20,000 to 120,000 FCFA. Continuity of care Indeed, viral hepatitis C is a public
health problem that affects about 13.8% of the population in Cameroon. The disease alone represents a prevalence rate of 8.3% for the 15-59 age group. According to figures from the 2017 Cameroon Population-based HIV Impact Assessment, hepatitis
C represents the highest rate of any category of the disease. Numerous initiatives have been launched in recent years. A National
Strategic Plan (NSP) for the fight against viral hepatitis 2020-2024 was launched on 28 August 2020 in Yaounde. This is to considerably
increase the response to viral hepatitis and lead to better results of care based on continuity
of care.