Pakistan urged to act as hepatitis silently threatens 13.8 million lives

WHO calls for urgent action as hepatitis B and C affect over 13.8 million people in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: On World Hepatitis Day 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a strong call for urgent and accelerated action to eliminate hepatitis B and C in Pakistan, a country now home to one of the largest hepatitis C burdens globally. With 10 million cases of hepatitis C and 3.8 million living with hepatitis B, Pakistan now faces a silent but worsening health crisis, threatening millions of lives and overwhelming the healthcare system.

Only 25% to 30% of those infected are aware of their condition, leaving the majority without access to life-saving treatment. WHO warns that unless testing, treatment, and prevention efforts are dramatically scaled up, hepatitis will continue to cause irreversible liver damage, cancer, and death.

The 2025 global theme, “Let’s break it down,” emphasizes the urgent need to simplify and integrate hepatitis services into routine healthcare, especially through vaccination, testing, treatment, safe injection practices, and harm reduction.

WHO supports Pakistan’s national elimination plan

WHO reaffirmed its full support for Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C, which aims to screen 165 million people by 2030 and treat 5 million by 2027.

“WHO will continue to fully support Pakistan in its journey to combat hepatitis and reinforce prevention, detection, and treatment, ensuring that we protect the most vulnerable populations to leave no one behind,” said Dr Dapeng Luo, WHO Representative in Pakistan.

Prime minister reaffirms national commitment

In a message to mark the occasion, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif stated that the government was committed to ending the hepatitis epidemic through a national movement of awareness, prevention, and free treatment. He reiterated that screening and early detection would be key to reaching millions still undiagnosed.

“This is a national movement and a testament to our collective commitment to saving lives,” he said, urging communities, healthcare professionals, and the private sector to join hands in eliminating hepatitis.

The prime minister highlighted the risks posed by unsafe blood transfusions, unregulated medical and dental procedures, reuse of syringes, inadequate infection control, and lack of awareness, especially in rural and underserved areas.

President Zardari calls for unified national response

President Asif Ali Zardari, in his message, emphasized the need for an integrated and coordinated national response, involving all stakeholders—from government agencies to civil society, private healthcare, and the media.

“The more people understand the risks, the better equipped they will be to protect themselves and their families,” he noted.

He called for mass awareness campaigns, effective vaccination drives, universal screening, and strict regulation of medical practices to stop the silent spread of hepatitis. He also described hepatitis as a “silent epidemic,” one that often goes unnoticed until it causes irreversible liver damage, cirrhosis, or liver failure.

A silent killer that must be stopped

Every year, chronic hepatitis leads to 1.3 million deaths globally, mostly due to liver cancer and cirrhosis—amounting to 3,500 deaths per day. In Pakistan, the high transmission rates are primarily due to unsafe medical practices, lack of regulation, and limited awareness. Experts agree that hepatitis is both preventable and treatable if identified early and addressed comprehensively.

Both WHO and Pakistan’s leadership urge immediate, large-scale interventions to test, treat, and educate—so that no one is left behind.

The message this year is clear: eliminating hepatitis in Pakistan is possible, but only with united, urgent action.

Stay informed. Stay ahead.

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