SIALKOT: Up to 500,000 people, of the four million population, are suffering from hepatitis in Sialkot district, according to District Health Authority chief Dr Javald Warraich.

He told reporters on Tuesday the number was increasing day by day, mainly due to quacl(s, who had been playing with the lives of people by using unsterilised instruments.

Dr Warraich added that 2,800 quacks were working in Sialkot district, according to thee Sialkot Health Department survey at union council level.

He said that the healthdepartment was taking action against the quacks.

He said a week-long free hepatitis treatment camp would be held at the Daska Civil Hospital from May 22-27 where the free screening of blood, free treatment and free vaccine would be provided to the visitors.

He said that there was hepatitis treatment available at 88 basic health units, seven rural health centers and three tehsil headquarters hospitals in the district.

He said that only Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital was catering to hepatitis carriers but it was not enough for the growing number of the patients.