Pakistan and WHO launch national campaign to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030

The Ministry of National Health Services, in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO), on Wednesday launched the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis C Elimination Agenda aimed at eliminating the disease by 2030.

Under the initiative, Pakistan has set a target of reaching 1.6 million people in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) over the next six months, as part of a broader nationwide elimination campaign.

The program, launched at a launch ceremony in Islamabad, is part of a phased national rollout that will eventually extend to more than 164 million people across the country, focusing on large-scale screening, early diagnosis and free treatment to curb the spread of hepatitis C.

Addressing the ceremony, Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal called the program a “historic and revolutionary step” towards building a healthier Pakistan.

He said the Rs67 billion initiative was one of the largest public health programs undertaken in the country and marked the culmination of nearly a decade of efforts to combat hepatitis C.

Highlighting the growing burden of the disease, the minister said nearly 10 million Pakistanis were affected by hepatitis C, out of an estimated 50 million patients worldwide.

“The most alarming thing is that only one in three affected people know they are living with this disease worldwide,” he said.

It is estimated that around 110,000 people are infected with hepatitis C each year in Pakistan, mainly due to unsafe medical injections, including blood transfusions, and injection drug use.

“Hepatitis C is a dangerous disease that, if left untreated, can lead to liver cancer,” Kamal said, emphasizing that the country’s health system needs to shift from a patient-care approach to a preventative health care model focused on early diagnosis and treatment.

The minister announced that a national monitoring would be carried out with the support of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to ensure transparency and maximum reach.

He said 12 hepatitis C testing counters had been set up in federal hospitals in Islamabad as part of the initial phase.

Kamal urged citizens to actively participate in the testing campaign, saying public cooperation was vital for the success of the program.

He said the hepatitis C test, which usually costs around Rs 7,000, along with three to six months’ comprehensive treatment, would be provided free of cost under the initiative.

Referring to Egypt’s successful elimination campaign, the minister said Pakistan could also achieve similar results through collective efforts. “If Egypt can eliminate hepatitis C, why can’t Pakistan? he said.

The minister highlighted the immense burden posed by the rapid population growth on the health system, noting that doctors often had to examine more than 350 patients per day instead of the expected 30.

He asked hospital administrations and healthcare workers to ensure full cooperation and respectful treatment to citizens visiting the testing centers.

Kamal described public service as a humanitarian and spiritual responsibility, saying that serving humanity was tantamount to an act of worship.

The ceremony reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating hepatitis C and strengthening preventative healthcare across the country.

With technical support from WHO and under the leadership of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, the program aims to prevent, detect and provide life-saving treatment to people who test positive for hepatitis C.

“Eliminating Hepatitis C in Pakistan is not optional. We must do it. Launching this program in Islamabad is a paradigm shift. Health is a national security issue and an economic issue,” Kamal said.

“With technical support from the World Health Organization, we can and must use science-based best practices to eliminate this disease and protect our people and families from this deadly disease, which is curable and preventable if we all follow good blood transfusion and injection safety measures. We know that prevention is better than cure.”

According to estimates shared at the ceremony, the program could generate savings of Rs 1.3 billion in treatment costs and over Rs 2 billion in hospitalization costs over the next five years.

By 2030, it is estimated that the national return on investment would be $8 for every dollar invested.

Pilot phases conducted in specific provinces provided critical insights into operational feasibility, challenges and best practices for nationwide expansion.

“The Prime Minister’s program is a major step towards achieving the global goal of eliminating hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030. The program could also prevent 850,000 deaths and 1.1 million new infections by 2050,” said WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr Luo Dapeng.

“WHO will stand with Pakistan and its people to implement this initiative by drawing on medical science and adapting best practices and lessons learned from around the world to the Pakistani context,” he added.

Pakistan, US reaffirm health cooperation

Meanwhile, Pakistan and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in the health sector, with emphasis on improving public health systems, disease prevention and healthcare delivery.

Kamal met US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S Paul Kapur, accompanied by US Chargé d’affaires Natalie A Baker, to discuss bilateral collaboration and areas of mutual interest.

During the meeting, the minister welcomed the American delegation and said Pakistan and the United States shared a long-standing partnership that continued to expand across several sectors, including public health.

He briefed the delegation on ongoing reforms in the health sector and priority initiatives aimed at improving health services across the country, emphasizing that preventive health care remained a key priority of the government.

Kamal also highlighted lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the importance of prevention and early intervention.

He briefed the delegation on the Prime Minister’s recently launched program for hepatitis C elimination, calling it a major step towards solving one of Pakistan’s most serious public health challenges.

Both sides agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in health-related initiatives and advancing common goals in the sector.