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— In Pakistan, almost 12m people are suffering from hepatitis B or C
ISLAMABAD: Owing to the incessant upsurge in hepatitis disease in the country, it appears to be a herculean task to meet the target of eliminating the chronic disease by 2030, as Pakistan has the world’s second highest prevalence of hepatitis, second only to Egypt, with almost 12 million people suffering from the disease.
A senior official wishing anonymity told Pakistan Today that due to the devolution of power after the 18th amendment, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has been left with no power, but only an advisory role and it cannot force the provinces to execute the policies.
Therefore, the official said that no effective campaign awareness could be seen anywhere in the country pertaining to the disease—despite the fact that one of the major reasons is lack of awareness regarding the disease, as the majority of people catch this infection without being aware of it.
Hepatitis is the eighth highest cause of mortality globally, and was responsible for an estimated 1.34 million deaths in 2015, a toll comparable to that of HIV and tuberculosis. Globally, approximately 257 million persons are chronically infected with hepatitis B and 71 million with hepatitis C. At this rate, an estimated 20 million deaths will occur between 2015 and 2030.
Within the region, Pakistan and Egypt bear 80 per cent of the disease burden, and, within Pakistan, almost 12 million people are suffering from hepatitis B or C. Each year brings about 150,000 new cases. The disease is called a ‘silent killer’ because many patients remain undiagnosed and untreated for many years before developing complications and dying.
The official said that, unfortunately, the health ministry is spending massive funds on foreign visits and holding seminars and conferences but no tangible outcomes could be seen on the ground.
Minister for National Health Services and Regulation Saira Afzal Tarar, during her address to the World Hepatitis Summit in the Brazilian city of Sao Paolo a few days ago, made a startling revelation that Pakistan has about 12 million people suffering from hepatitis B or C.
She vowed that “our ministry in partnership with the provinces launched Pakistan National Hepatitis Strategy Framework to eliminate the disease by the year 2030.”
According to the data obtained from Polyclinic Hospital, a total of 24,901 patients were screened for hepatitis in OPD, of which a huge number of 1,882 were diagnosed positive with hepatitis C, while another 570 with hepatitis B.
Similarly, out of the total 4,556 healthy donors, a total of 177 were diagnosed with hepatitis C and 114 with hepatitis B.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Dr Shabir Hussain, a doctor in Polyclinic, said that there were mainly four reasons of hepatitis: vertical transmission from mother to child, sexual transmission, blood transfusion; however, the major risk factors for the transmission of hepatitis B and C infection include improper sterilisation of invasive devices mainly being used by the dentists and the barbers, who could be seen in every nook and corner of the metropolitan.
Dr Shabir added that the syringe reuse, surgery and reuse of razors while getting a shave from barbers are quite common reasons for the disease.
There is a vaccine for hepatitis B, which is being given to the children along with other vaccines that are really helpful in minimising the chances of hepatitis B; however, hepatitis C is very dangerous since there is no vaccine, and, if not treated at the initial stage, it could prove quite fatal.
Meanwhile, Sajid Hussain Shah, a Ministry of Health spokesperson, told Pakistan Today that the ministry undertook some tangible steps for the effective prevention and control of hepatitis in the country. He added that the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on hepatitis was constituted, which guides the federal and provincial governments’ hepatitis programmes on way forward to achieve disease control.
On the advice of TAG, he said, the government has introduced the new oral hepatitis drugs in the country and negotiated with the pharmaceutical companies to bring the cost down to Rs 5,800 only, and no company could sale over the agreed price.
The Group also developed new hepatitis C treatment guidelines, which have been handed over to the provinces for use, he added.
He said that media role is of paramount importance to educate the people regarding the chronic disease, because public awareness is vital since people mainly suffered from the disease having no knowledge of the disease.
About the provinces, he said that all the provinces are quite supportive and cooperative with the health ministry; hence they were quite hopeful to achieve the set target to eliminate the menace by 2030 from the country.