SRINAGAR: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) is filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the “government apathy” in treating Hemophilia patients.
“It is shocking and alarming that out of 90 Hemophilia patients screened, 35 are positive for Hepatitis-C virus infection while four have died. Hemophiliacs are victims of government apathy. And we will file a PIL as it is a ‘colossal human tragedy’,” DAK president Dr Nisar-ul-Hasan said in a statement on Wednesday.
Dr Nisar said the patients have contracted this deadly virus because of the contaminated fresh frozen plasma (FFP), a blood product that they receive on demand during bleeding.
“Blood Banks in the Valley screen blood and blood products by either card method or enzyme immunoassay, which can give false results. Thus, the blood banks are a huge source of Hepatitis-C virus,” he said.
He said: “The Hepatitis-C positive hemophiliacs have been denied treatment by the government, depriving them of their fundamental right.”
The Valley has around 250 hemophiliac patients and most of them are permanently disabled because of unavailability of the factor VIII and IX in the hospitals, Dr Nisar said, adding hemophiliacs can live a normal quality life if coagulation factors are given to them on a regular basis.

Reader correspondent