In a concerning update from the World Health Organization (WHO), Pakistan emerges with the highest count of viral hepatitis C infections globally, tallying at approximately 8.8 million cases. This figure represents 44 percent of all new hepatitis C infections linked to unsafe medical injections. Historically, Egypt had held the highest numbers for hepatitis C and B cases, closely followed by Pakistan.
Data collected from 187 countries reveals a worrisome trend: estimated deaths from viral hepatitis surged from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022. Among these fatalities, 83 percent were attributed to hepatitis B, and 17 percent to hepatitis C.
When combining cases of hepatitis B and hepatitis C, Pakistan ranks fifth globally, trailing only behind China, India, Indonesia, and Nigeria, with approximately 12.6 million reported cases in 2022.
The WHO’s Global Hepatitis Report 2024 underscores Pakistan’s significant share of new infections resulting from unsafe injections, accounting for 44 percent of the total. The report identifies ten countries collectively bearing nearly two-thirds of the global burden of viral hepatitis B and C, with Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, the Philippines, and the Russian Federation also featuring prominently.
Remarkably, Egypt has achieved gold-tier status in the pursuit of eliminating hepatitis C, positioning the country to meet the targets for reduced incidence and mortality before 2030.
Furthermore, as of December 2023, 16 countries have been recognized for eliminating one or more of HIV, syphilis, and HBV.
Commenting on the report, senior medical experts note that many hepatitis patients in Pakistan are diagnosed incidentally or present symptoms only in the later stages of the illness. Dr. Masood Sheikh from Lahore General Hospital emphasizes Pakistan’s status as the second-largest burden bearer of hepatitis C globally, with a prevalence rate of 4.8 percent nationwide. He highlights a concerning trend of rising hepatitis-related deaths and the threefold increase in liver cancers and transplants across the country over the past two decades.
Despite these challenges, there is a glimmer of hope in drug pricing data: Pakistan offers the lowest reported price for a generic 12-week course of treatment for hepatitis C, at approximately $33, compared to China’s highest reported price of about $10,000.
