Mumbai, 3rd September 2024: NephroPlus, Asia's leading dialysis centre network, has launched an innovative and impactful program to address the challenges of Hepatitis C infection in haemodialysis patients, particularly in low-resource settings. This initiative underscores NephroPlus’ commitment to improving patient outcomes and strengthening the health system. Hepatitis C is a persistent and often silent infection that frequently affects patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis. The clustering of risk factors within dialysis units necessitates robust prevention, screening, and treatment strategies. NephroPlus has implemented a provider-driven approach to effectively address this health system gap, focusing on both patient and systemic benefits.

In a landmark pilot study conducted from 2022 to 2024, NephroPlus screened maintenance haemodialysis patients for Hepatitis C across 11 dialysis clinics in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, under a public-private partnership program. The screening employed the HCV RNA PCR method, targeting compliant patients below 60 years of age, without comorbidities, and adhering to at least two dialysis sessions per week for three months. Patients found to be carriers of the virus were treated with a combination of Sofosbuvir and Velpatisivir for 12 weeks, with HCV RNA levels assessed post-treatment to determine viral remission.

The study revealed a Hepatitis C prevalence ranging from 2% to 21% across the 11 centers, 114 patients tested positive for the Hepatitis C virus using the HCV Ig M ELISA method. Of these, 94 patients met the inclusion criteria, and 85 consented to participate. Patients had an average age of 45 years, with 80% males and 20% females. All patients were using an arteriovenous fistula access, with an average haemodialysis frequency of 2.5 sessions per week.

Out of the 85 participants, 37 patients turned out to be HCV RNA PCR negative. This shows that HCV RNA should always be preferred while testing for Hepatitis C. Among the 48 HCV RNA positive patients, 38 completed the treatment regimen, with 33 achieving viral remission.

This was truly a win-win for all stakeholders. The patients benefitted the most as they  were successfully treated without any out-of-pocket expense and can now hope to have better outcomes as Hepatitis C infection is known to adversely impact survival and other outcomes. The Government benefitted as successful treatment would lead to lower healthcare costs for these patients. The company also benefitted as the cost of treating Hepatitis C positive patients is higher than that to treat those not infected with this virus.

Dr. Suresh Sankar, Senior Vice President, Clinical Affairs at NephroPlus, commented, “This ground breaking program by NephroPlus demonstrates that proactive HCV RNA testing and treatment not only addresses false positivity but also reduces the disease burden and infection risk within dialysis units. The initiative has proven to improve individual patient prognosis and offer cost-effective solutions for the health system. NephroPlus’s commitment to quality care and innovative health solutions continues to set benchmarks in the dialysis industry, paving the way for better health outcomes in low-resource settings.”

About NephroPlus: NephroPlus operates 450+ dialysis clinics in more than 230+ cities across 4 countries and is known for its quality focus and patient-centricity. The company was established 14 years back with a vision to enable people on dialysis across the world to lead long, happy, and productive lives. The company treats ~28,000 patients per month. For further information: https://www.NephroPlus.com/