Davit Sergeenko

Minister of Health, Davit Sergeenko. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The Health Ministry will start a new program to reduces the price of treatment for hepatitis C .

Health Minister Davit Sergeenko said at a press conference Wednesday that treatment for hepatitis C will be free for prisoners and become cheaper for others.

The total number of people with hepatitis C is not known; however the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) has published information based on figures from the Health Ministry that shows that in 2006-2012 Georgia had 12 743 new cases of hepatitis C infection. The highest number of new cases was 2 511 in 2011.

According to a report published in 2008 by the Infection Pathology, Aids and Clinical Immunology Center, there were about 200 000 people infected by hepatitis C.

Currently, it will cost a person about 13 000 – 27 000 lari (USD 7 800- 16 200) to undertake a course of treatment for the disease.