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Hepatitis C - Clinic Cambodia

Treating hepatitis C in Phnom Penh

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In 2016, MSF set up a treatment clinic for patients with hepatitis C in Preah Kossamak Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  By April 2017 over 10,000 people had been screened since the start of the programme, of whom 4,000 had been diagnosed with hepatitis C.  As a result, around 800 people have been put on treatment since October 2016. MSF is treating patients with the improved hepatitis C medicines called direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) that have recently been introduced. These medicines are far more effective than previous hepatitis C drugs; they carry far fewer side-effects for patients, and the treatment lasts around 12 weeks compared with the previous treatment of 24 to 48 weeks with painful weekly injections. However, the high price of the medicines is a barrier to accessing treatment for many. Diagnostic costs also present a challenge for treatment providers.

Cambodia Hep-C
People wait for their appointment in the waiting room at the MSF hepatitis C clinic at Preah Kossamak Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Todd Brown
Cambodia Hep-C
A patient holds their queue ticket as they wait for their appointment at the MSF hepatitis C clinic at Preah Kossamak Hospital in Phnom Penh.
Todd Brown
Hepatitis C - Clinic Cambodia
Ek Sreang, 60, has his blood pressure taken by an MSF nurse at the MSF hepatitis C clinic at Preah Kossamak Hospital.
Todd Brown
Cambodia Hep-C
Hepatitis C - Clinic Cambodia
MSF Clinic Registrars Sreng Sothea and Pich Sothea work with patients’ files at the MSF hepatitis C clinic at Preah Kossamak Hospital in Phnom Penh.
Todd Brown
Hepatitis C - Clinic Cambodia
MSF Pharmacy Technician Toueng Sreymon distributes hepatitis C medicines, called direct-acting antivirals. The drugs can cure a patient of hepatitis C in 12 weeks, compared to 24 to 48 weeks using older forms of treatment.
Todd Brown
Hepatitis C - Clinic Cambodia
A patient checks in with MSF Clinic Registrar Sreng Sothea at the MSF hepatitis C clinic at Preah Kossamak Hospital.
Todd Brown
Cambodia Hep-C
A patient holds his medicine at the MSF hepatitis C clinic at Preah Kossamak Hospital. Treatment using the new drugs are much better tolerated by people than older treatment.
Todd Brown
Hepatitis C - Clinic Cambodia
Din Savorn, 50, is given an injection by technician Sokchea Yan, at the MSF hepatitis C clinic at Preah Kossamak Hospital.
Todd Brown
Cambodia Hep-C
Din Savorn, 50, walks with his children in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 20, April 2017.
Todd Brown