India can learn a lesson or two from Egypt on how to deal with hepatitis

In 2006, when Egypt formed a national committee to control the spread of Hepatitis, the country was known to have the highest burden of the disease globally. India, at the time, had still not acknowledged its growing Hepatitis numbers, while focusing on HIV and Tuberculosis.

Over the past decade, Egypt has come a long way, reducing Hepatitis prevalence from 4.5 per cent then to 1 per cent now, and, in the process, has provided a roadmap for the World Health Organisation (WHO) and countries like India, which is grappling with an estimated 6 million Hepatitis C (HCV) and 40 million Hepatitis B (HBV) cases.

The syringe culture is similar in Egypt and India. People take less oral medication and prefer injections. Syringe safety is necessary to prevent new cases. Egypt raised awareness on the use of sterile razors in barber shops, use of new instruments for pedicure and manicure and on the use of disposable syringes for patients. It’s all about advocacy. There should be multiple stakeholders like the government, politicians, the media and individuals from different sectors who wish to bring this health problem into the limelight.

The Egyptian government also urged Hepatitis drug manufacturing companies to lower costs. Direct cost of hepatitis treatment there was estimated at $ 670 million and the country was able to treat its patients at 1/10 the global price of the drugs.

The Hepatitis pool grew in Egypt in the 1950s and 1960s due to the reuse of glass syringes after boiling. It is believed that similar unsafe syringe practices have led to the increased cases in India. 

Egypt has now introduced a birth-dose policy to prevent new infections. The prevalence of HCV in Egyptian children has dropped to 0.8 percent from the 1.5 percent a decade ago.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has begun a vaccination drive for newborns against HBV under Mission Indradhanush, that is aimed to prevent seven diseases in infants. Since 2014, over 40 lakh children have been covered under the scheme. But there still stands no active diagnosis or free treatment programme for Hepatitis adult patients unlike AIDS or Tuberculosis.

The Health ministry has also roped in Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan to become the face of the campaign. Although delayed, the government is slowly moving towards disposable syringes with Maharashtra becoming one of first states to embrace one-time usable syringes.

Hopefully, in due course we can learn and implement many of the policies that have been successful in Egypt

Ayurvedic medicine for making the liver strong and healthy

Ayurveda means the complete knowledge for long life.  Ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and practiced in other parts of the world as a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, the word ayurveda consists of the words āyus, meaning "longevity", and veda, meaning "related to knowledge" or "science". Evolving throughout its history, Ayurveda remains an influential system of medicine in South Asia especially India. The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India. The Suśruta Saṃhitā and the Charaka Saṃhitā were influential works on traditional medicine during this era. Over the following centuries, ayurvedic practitioners developed a number of medicinal preparations and surgical procedures for the treatment of various ailments .

In Western medicine, ayurveda is classified as a system of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that is used to complement, rather than replace, the treatment regimen and relationship that exists between a patient and their existing physician.
There are many Ayurvedic medicines and Ayurvedic companies in India. In fact there are many treatment under Ayurveda for which there is no treatment in western medicine.  Many of the Ayurvedic medicines are common knowledge in Indian household for e.g. the use of Tulsi or Holy Basil leaves. Tulsi’s extracts are used in ayurvedic remedies for common colds, headaches, stomach disorders, inflammation, heart disease, various forms of poisoning, and malaria. 

One such medicine is Kamalahar from Khatore Pharmaceuticals Private limited. It is completely herbal product. The ingredients in Kamalahar which play a key role in the treatment are Tecoma undulata, Phyllanthus urinaria, Embelia ribes, Taraxacum officinale, Nyctanthes arbortritis and Terminalia arjuna.  These ingredients are known to be good for liver. But it is the combination of these natural herbs which the company has pioneered that makes it very effective for liver disorders such as Jaundice, Hepatitis, Cirrhosis and also for liver detoxification. Kamalahar is proven to be very effective in the treatment of Jaundice, Hepatitis and Cirrhosis. Currently many of the patients who suffer from Jaundice or Hepatitis are asked to just rest and control the diet and it can take a very long time before the patients can become normal or sometimes they don’t even become normal. With Kamalahar, it is proven that the patients see result within 1 week and most of them are back to normal in 2 weeks. The product has already benefited millions of patients in the eastern parts of India where the company is based and where its traditionally focused right now. Kamalahar is also taken for liver detoxification to make the liver stronger.  The big stress of current work life takes a heavy toll on our body. The irregular and oil reach diet makes our liver weak and sometimes leads to many other problems . 1 full course of Kamalahar is very useful to detoxify the liver.

Hepatitis is a silent killer that destroys unknowing victims

The ‘silent epidemic’ of viral hepatitis continues to significantly affect many unknowing victims. A major obstacle to overcome is many people remain symptom free for decades until they develop chronic liver disease. Chronic liver disease is a major cause of cirrhosis, cancer and devastating medical bills.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. There are five main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. These types are of greatest concern because of the burden of illness, death and the potential for outbreaks and epidemic spread.

Hepatitis A is found in the faeces of infected persons and is most often transmitted through contaminated water or food. The virus attacks the liver and cause mild to severe illness. Hepatitis A is closely associated with inadequate sanitation and poor personal hygiene. Certain sex practices can also spread the virus. It is one of the most common vaccine-preventable illnesses in residents and travellers.

Hepatitis B is a serious disease spread through infected blood and other bodily fluids such as semen and vaginal secretions. It is spread in a very similar way that HIV is spread but hepatitis B is approximately 100 times more infectious. Hepatitis B can also be transmitted from infected mothers to infants at birth or from family members to infants in early childhood. The majority of hepatitis B sufferers fully recover but a percentage become carriers. Carriers can transmit the virus unknowingly to others even when they are not experiencing symptoms themselves. This group can go on and develop chronic hepatitis and experience scar tissue or hardening of the liver.

Hepatitis C is often a silent condition that is most commonly transmitted through exposure to infected blood as well. Most people go on to develop chronic hepatitis C without even knowing. Chronic hepatitis C suffers often experience fatigue, a diminished appetite, joint and muscle pain as well as yellowing of the skin and eyes, urine of a dark yellow colour and an increased tendency to bleed or bruise. It’s important to note hepatitis C can be treated using antiviral medicines. Hepatitis C is not spread through breast milk, food and water or by casual contact such as hugging, kissing and sharing food or drinks with an infected person. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common. The risk is higher if one has many sexual partners.

Most people with hepatitis B or C are unaware that they carry the infectious virus. This results in unknowingly transmitting the virus to other people. Approximately one million people die each year from causes related to viral hepatitis.

Hepatitis D infections occur only in those who are infected with hepatitis B. The dual infection of hepatitis D and B can result in a more serious disease and worse outcomes. However, chronic hepatitis D is seen in less than 5 per cent of co-infected patients.


Hepatitis E, like hepatitis A, is typically transmitted through the consumption of contaminated water or food. This form of hepatitis is common in any country with a hot climate. Hepatitis E is most commonly seen in teens and adults between the ages of 15 and 40. Safe and effective vaccines to prevent hepatitis E have been developed but are not widely available.

It’s important to practice good hygiene with any form of hepatitis. Thoroughly wash your hands after using the toilet, changing a baby’s diaper and before preparing food. Avoid sharing eating utensils, toothbrushes and other intimate personal objects.

Hepatitis a major problem for baby boomers in America

Hepatitis (A, B, C) has been called a silent epidemic: As the most common blood-borne viral infection United States, it affects more than 7 million Americans — yet, most don't know they have it. But the condition can lead to the development of cirrhosis and liver cancer, and is the leading indication for liver transplantation in the United States.

Baby boomers have the highest rate of hepatitis infection, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently recommended that all people born between 1945 and 1965 get tested at least once for it. People with other risk factors for hepatitis (e.g., previous intravenous drug users, previous cocaine users, recipients of blood transfusions before 1992, and people with tattoos and body piercings in places other than the ears) should also get tested, regardless of age.

Once hepatitis is diagnosed, it is not easy to cure using western medicine but there are good cures available in traditional medicine. Kamalahar is once such ayurvedic or herbal medication which has been proven very effective in the treatment of liver disorders including hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver and ascites.

Many world celebrities suffering from Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a liver disorder which is caused by many ways such as blood transfusion, using infected needle, etc. It is transmitted by blood-to-blood contact, or by exposure to another person's infected blood. Hepatitis C can later on lead to many other liver problem such as cirrhosis or even liver cancer.

Many of the world celebrities from different walks of life are known to have Hepatitis C. Pamela Anderson is believed to have gotten Hepatitis C through the use of an infected needle. Brooke Ashley has gotten infected with Hepatitis and HIV during the making of a movie.

Christopher Kennedy Lawford is the nephew of President John F. Kennedy. Lawford grew up with U.S. presidents and movie stars as close relatives and personal friends. He is believed to have contracted it in his early years but it wasn’t until 2001 that Lawford was diagnosed with HCV.

Anita Pallenberg is an Italian-born actress, model, and fashion designer. She was the romantic partner of Rolling Stones multi-instrumentalist and guitarist Brian Jones and later the partner of Keith Richards, the guitarist of the same band. She is also known to have been infected with Hepatitis C.

Anita Roddick, founder of Body Shop chain of stores, and Rocky Aoki, the successful Japanese businessmen, contracted hepatitis C due to blood transfusion.

Many other celebrities such as Natalie Cole, David Crosby, Steven Tyler, Dharmachari Aryadaka and many more been diagnosed with Hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C does have any vaccine at this time and it is the leading cause of liver transplant in the United States. Thousands of people die each year from the disease. The symptoms of infection can be medically managed when the disease is diagnosed early, and a proportion of patients can be cleared of the virus by a course of anti-viral medicines. Like other liver disorders (such as cirrhosis, fatty liver, ascites), Hepatitis does not have proper treatment in allopathic medicine. In the alternative medicine world there are herbal or ayurvedic products which are proven to be effective in the treatment of hepatitis and treatment of liver disorders.

A new year brings in new hopes and new plans

2012 is finally coming to end. It was an eventful year for Khatore Pharmaceuticals. Finally the online channel has started to walk and we are looking forward for it to run in 2013. It has been a journey full of perseverance, patience and hard work. As the say every great work is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.

The reach of online channel is gradually increasing day by day and month by month. There are still some hurdles on the way which needs to be overcome in order to enable Kamalahar to reach all the people suffering from liver problem in different parts of the world. God willing we will be able to take Kamalahar to all the people who are in need of it. It has proven time and again its effectiveness in the treatment of liver problems such as treatment of hepatitis, treatment of cirrhosis, treatment of fatty liver and treatment of ascites. There are many heartening stories that we heard from patients in different parts of the world in 2012. People who were thankful that Kamalahar was able to help them, where they had been let down by allopathic medicine. Also treatment with Kamalahar is very cheap compared to hundreds of thousands of Rupees or dollars that they had to spend in their treatment when they went for western medicine.

 

For example, one of the patients, Mr. G from USA, had his liver at grade 13 (grade 14 being the worst). He had lost all hopes when he started taking Kamalahar. But after 6 months of treatment with Kamalahar his liver was back to grade 1. Similarly another patient was asked to go for liver transplant which would have cost him millions of rupees and he could not afford it. Instead he decided to go with Kamalahar and he is on his path to recovery. We hope to help many more patients through Kamalahar. Wishing everyone a very happy new year.

Selling Kamalahar online - Blue Ocean Strategy in pharmaceuticals

Khatore Pharmaceuticals was trying to figure out the right way to reach the masses who have been suffering from liver problem. When we analysed the industry and created the current strategy canvas it was clear that the industry consisted of players who were focused on going through the doctors. It created high cost for the companies and hence the customers had to pay a high price. At the same time there were many hurdles in reaching the patients for any good pharmaceutical company with a product which can be taken by the patients directly. In order to overcome the blockages the company had to redraw the strategy map of the industry and create innovative mechanisms of its own.

There was clear cut value in the product as it was proven to cure many of the liver disorders such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver, ascites for which there was no cure in traditional medicine. Also there was big mass of customer who were untapped currently. The thing that was required was to come up with a right strategy to tap into this customer base.

The company went through the six path formulation of its strategy. By looking across industry, we found that what HP had done in online PC market can be applied to its product line up. HP had both traditional sellers like Best Buy, Fries Electronics, etc. At the same time it launched the online channel. Also looking at the time trend it became clear that internet is going to play an even bigger role in the buying decision of people. We also looked across chain of buyers and decided to eliminate some of the influencers that play a big role in the purchase when you are going through those channels. Instead it decided to stress on customers as brand ambassadors. They become the key player in its marketing channel by showcasing the testimonials of the beneficiaries.

The company also realigned the people proposition by reconfiguring its supply chain to suit the new way it was going to market Kamalahar. It also made exclusive deals with courier companies to provide speedy delivery to the customers so that their anxiety was reduced. It added 24/7 customer support line whereby people can call to get advice on the product.

The strategy was launched with much enthusiasm and slowly the business processes were adjusted for the execution of the new strategy. After the initial hicups the processes are in place now and after 1 year of execution it is clear that the product is now in pioneer category of PMS map.

Hepatitis A outbreak reported in a small town of Malaysia

Malaysia is a middle income nation which is endowed with rich natural resources. At the same time the heavy rainfall and remoteness of some of the places make them vulnerable for water borne diseases. Recently there was an outbreak of liver disease. Many people have been reported to be suffering from hebatitis in a small remote town in Malaysia. Twenty-seven people have been admitted to hospital in Malaysia, suffering from hepatitis A, a viral liver disease that can cause mild to severe illness.

It is spread by faecal-oral transmission when a person ingests food or drink contaminated by an infected person's faeces. so it is usually spread by dirty hands preparing food. Waterborne outbreaks, though infrequent, are usually associated with sewage-contaminated or inadequately treated water. It is incredibly infectious.

There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A virus infection in allopathic or western medicine. But there are proven treatments in herbal or ayruvedic medicines. Recovery from symptoms following infection may be slow and take several weeks or months. Therapy is aimed at maintaining comfort and adequate nutritional balance, including replacement of fluids that are lost from vomiting and diarrhoea. It is a debilitating disease causing inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable disease. One vaccine protects for 1 year; if another one is given within that time, protection is for at least 25 years or maybe even for life.

Ayurvedic medicine Kamalahar is proven to be quite effective in the treatment of liver problem such as treatment of hepatitis and treatment of fatty liver.

The authorities have cleaned up the river that has been found to be the source of a Hepatitis A outbreak which affected people from three villages in Hulu Terengganu. Kampung Basung, Kampung Pasir Dula and Padang Setebu were declared as an outbreak area since Sunday after 42 people were admitted to Hulu Terengganu Hospital.  The health department has also conducted a cleaning exercise, including fogging, at the villages. It is believed that the cause of the outbreak came from an native Malaysian settlement near the water source. Health department workers have treated the water source with chlorine. Of the 42 people infected, 27 were from Kampung Basung, 14 from Kampung Pasir Dula and one from Kampung Padang Setebu.