Is the cost of hepatitis C treatment expensive?

Generally, hepatitis C refers to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The cost of treating hepatitis C mainly depends on the treatment plan and the severity of the condition. If a traditional treatment plan is used and the condition is relatively mild, the treatment cost usually is not very high. However, if a new treatment plan is used or the condition is severe, the treatment cost may be higher. A detailed explanation is as follows:

If the patient's condition is at an early stage, the damage to liver function is minimal, and the doctor may recommend adopting a more conservative and traditional treatment method, such as interferon plus ribavirin therapy. In this case, the treatment cycle is relatively short, lasting from six months to one year, and the required medications are mostly conventional drugs. Therefore, the overall treatment cost is relatively low, ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 yuan.

For patients with complex conditions that have progressed to cirrhosis or even liver cancer stages, doctors may recommend using new direct-acting antiviral drugs. Although these new medications offer better therapeutic effects, their treatment costs are relatively high, with a complete course of treatment costing between 50,000 to 70,000 yuan. In addition, severe cases may require longer hospital stays, regular follow-up examinations, and additional treatments for complications, all of which will increase the total treatment expenses. In such cases, the treatment cost may be quite expensive.

In daily life, patients should avoid eating moldy, spoiled food and processed foods containing excessive pigments and preservatives. Fresh and hygienic ingredients should be selected to protect liver health.