Pakistan has been identified as the country with the highest number of hepatitis C patients in the world, with 10 million cases out of a global total of 60 million. Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Health, highlighted this alarming statistic during a seminar hosted by the Health Foundation on hepatitis elimination.
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Dr. Bharath emphasized the urgent need for collective action to address this significant public health crisis. He warned that without timely intervention, Pakistan could face over 11 million hepatitis C cases by 2035, resulting in more than 500,000 cases of liver cirrhosis, over 100,000 instances of liver cancer, and approximately 130,000 deaths linked to hepatitis C.
The economic impact of this crisis is also substantial, with an estimated annual loss of $285 million. As of 2021, only 16% of hepatitis C patients in Pakistan had received treatment, citing limited access to testing and treatment as critical challenges.
In response, the federal government, in collaboration with provincial authorities, has launched the Prime Minister’s Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C. The initiative is set to allocate Rs34.15 billion over the next three years, with provincial contributions amounting to Rs33.61 billion, bringing the total funding to Rs67.77 billion.
Dr. Bharath commended the progress made in combating hepatitis, which includes the establishment of a National Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for hepatitis control, the development of strategic frameworks at both national and provincial levels, and the availability of cost-effective generic Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs). He also underscored ongoing efforts to expand vaccination, screening, testing, and treatment programs across the country.
However, he noted that additional technical and financial support is necessary to scale up these initiatives. “We require detailed plans for hepatitis elimination, improved monitoring and healthcare systems, trained healthcare workers, and enhanced national logistics and software systems,” he said, urging for international collaboration.
The program’s target is to screen, test, and treat 50% of the eligible population within the next three years, with the ultimate goal of achieving global hepatitis C elimination targets by 2030. Dr. Bharath called on international partners to support Pakistan in achieving 100% coverage, stressing the importance of global cooperation in eradicating hepatitis C.
