CHK faces shortage hepatitis PCR kits

MN Report

KARACHI - Hepatitis B and C polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits are not available at Civil Hospital Karachi for the last couple of weeks, causing immense hardships to patients visiting the health facility, it was reliably learnt.

Around 100 to 150 patients, belonging to Karachi and other parts of Sindh, who visit the CHK’s central laboratory daily for the hepatitis B and C blood tests, have been returning disappointed for the last couple of weeks owing to unavailability of hepatitis B and C (PCR) kits.

According to sources, whenever patients inform the lab staff that they have come from far-flung areas for the test, they are told to bring the kits from market as it was not available at the health facility.

CHK medical superintendent Prof Saeed Qureshi when contact said that the hospital was facing shortage of hepatitis test kits owing to their delayed supply by Sindh Hepatitis Prevention & Control Programme.

Focal Person of Hepatitis Prevention and Control Programme Karachi Dr Ghulam Mujtaba Memon said hepatitis B and C confirmation test kits are not available in the city’s hospitals due to short supply.

He was, however, optimistic that the situation will improve shortly.