The Ministry of Health has introduced the simvastatin tablets as the initiation therapy to reduce cholesterol levels of new patients in hospital wards.
Cholesterol has been found to be one of the contributing factors to many cardiac diseases leading fatalities.
Minister for Health Dr Neil Sharma said introducing statins for new patients with high cholesterol levels, strengthens the treatment course to curb other associated costs which may result from complicated cardiac diseases because of uncontrollable cholesterol levels.
“The health ministry aims to introduce the statins at this level of initiation but patients need to continue to take treatment from the private sector,” Dr. Sharma said.
Dr. Sharma said the therapy will be introduced at the divisional hospitals while the retaill price for the simvastatin tablet will cost a patient a minimum of $2 per month.
Despite this initiative, Dr. Sharma said the ministry will continue to promote wellness with the aim to reduce or prevent high cholesterol by ensuring regular exercises and right diet.
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