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.