Health Ministry, Egyptian Cure Bank ink protocol to treat Hep C virus

The Health Ministry has signed a cooperation protocol with the Egyptian Cure Bank to fight and treat Hepatitis C virus in light of an initiative by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to treat one million citizens.

The protocol is meant to treat 40,000 patients with a total cost hitting 230 million pounds, said spokesman for the Health Ministry Hossam Abdel Ghaffar.

Under the protocol, the Health Ministry will provide health centers for the beneficiaries to undergo tests for for free, Abdel Ghaffar said. The Cure Bank will provide drugs for the patients, he added.

The Ministry appreciates efforts exerted by the Cure Bank to treat Hep C patients, he said.

Virus C is one of the most significant infectious diseases in Egypt. The disease is being transmitted at a very fast rate.

Millions of Egyptians suffer from Hepatitis C- the highest prevalence of the virus in the world, according to the World Health Organization.

In May, President Abdel-Fattah El Sisi proposed a new deal to buy one million doses of treatment annually from "virus C drug companies" at a reduced price to treat the disease.