Vietnam Friend With HCV

I have a friend in Vietnam with HCV.  He has had it for 19 years (since a blood transfusion at age 10), and it has been untreated.  I sent him to a liver doctor in Saigon, who prescribed medicines I have not heard of:  hepatic, timocon, sporlac, debridat, ultramine. My friend was told these are Chinese medicines. I wanted him to be treated in Vietnam by medications such as Interferon Alfa and Ribavirin.  The Vietnamese doctor said that Western medicines for HCV in Vietnam cost $20,000 a year and that the Chinese medicines are much cheaper, but as effective.

Has anyone heard of these medicines for HCV?  Are they effective? Also, if I wanted him to take the Western medicines in Vietnam (administered by Vietnamese doctors), is there any financial assistance available for a Vietnamese person living in Vietnam with HCV?

Peter E.

[cuteus]

what a blessing for your friend to have you on his side.  There are no effective medicines against the virus itself except the interferon/riba combo. The chinese herbs can soothe the symptoms of hcv, but not erradicate it.

[Califia]

FYI these are not Chinese herbal medicines.    They seem to be standard Western medicines that aid digestive problems; none seem to be anti-virals.

[LvdByGod!]

hi peter, i pray you can find help for your friend...the above posters have told you the truth. your freind needs the standard  interferon and ribaviron to get rid of the virus before it damages his liver beyond repair...hopefully you will be able to find a financial help for him in vietnam...i would just search the web and find as much info as possible about health care in vietnam and also talk to your dr's about what he might do...your dr may know of organizations that can help your friend out or he may be able to steer you in the right direction...i suppose you could also talk to Christian mission agencies about how they get people help in these countries...i know there are several that go to these countries and help others with medical needs... here are some listings for mission agencies perhaps you can find one that works with the people of vietnam...

http://community.gospelcom.net/Brix?pageID=7998

[LvdByGod!]

try asking someone at this organization...i'm not sure they can help but they may be able to suggest organizations that can help in vietnam...

http://www.gfa.org/gfa/