With over 16% of global hepatitis patients residing in Pakistan, the government has announced the launch of the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis C Eradication Program this month.
Prime Minister’s coordinator Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath announced on Tuesday, expressing concern over the increasing number of hepatitis patients in the country. Out of the 60 million people suffering from hepatitis worldwide, 10 million are in Pakistan.
“I have good news for them; they will receive treatment under the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis C Elimination Program, with a PC-I of Rs68 billion approved for it,” he said.
Dr. Bharath mentioned that the program would be a collaborative effort between the federal government and all four provinces. The initiative will include screening every person over the age of 12 and providing free treatment to those diagnosed.
“People of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan will benefit from the program. The prime minister will chair the National Task Force for the eradication of hepatitis C,” he said.
Dr. Bharath emphasized that a project management unit would be established for the program’s implementation and a policy to control non-communicable and communicable diseases in Pakistan is being devised. He highlighted the government’s commitment to prioritizing the health sector and introducing reforms.
Dr. Hyder Abbasi, a consultant gastroenterologist and hepatologist at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), praised the initiative for free screening. He explained that hepatitis A and E typically cause acute hepatitis with visible symptoms like jaundice, vomiting, body aches, and fever, usually resolving within four to six weeks with supportive care. However, in rare cases, complications may require intensive care.
He noted that hepatitis B and C are more dangerous, causing chronic hepatitis without evident symptoms until significant liver damage occurs, leading to complications such as vomiting blood, black stools, abdominal fluid accumulation, and altered consciousness, potentially resulting in liver tumors.
Dr. Abbasi urged people to get screened for hepatitis B and C, as 9 out of 10 infected individuals are unaware of their condition. He highlighted the effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccine, comparing it to the COVID-19 vaccine in terms of reducing the disease burden.
He advised avoiding unnecessary injections and drips, tattoos, and ensuring dental and surgical procedures are done at authentic medical facilities with proper sterilization. He also recommended ensuring proper screening of blood transfusions and using new blades at barbershops.
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