WHO urges Pakistan to detect, treat over 13.8m infected with hepatitis

Image: Chatly.ai

Islamabad, 28 July 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for urgent action to fight a disease that continues to silently cause liver damage and cancer in Pakistan, which bears the heaviest burden of hepatitis C globally – with 10 million of the 60 million estimated cases worldwide – and has 3.8 million people living with hepatitis B. 

Only 25-30% of the people affected know it, which prevents them from receiving life-saving treatment.

In a statement issued here, under the international theme “Let’s break it down”, WHO has urged policymakers and health authorities worldwide to simplify, scale up and integrate hepatitis services into national health systems – including vaccination, safe injection practices, harm reduction, and especially testing and treatment. The goal: ending hepatitis as a public health problem by 2030.

WHO has reiterated its full support for Pakistan in its efforts to fight the disease, and particularly the Prime Minister’s National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C Infection. This programme aims to test 50% of the eligible population (82.5 million people aged 12 years and above) and treat 5 million people 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 WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Dapeng Luo.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed firm commitment to eradicating Hepatitis-C from Pakistan.

Addressing an event in Islamabad on Monday to mark the successful completion of National Hepatitis-C Elimination Program's pilot project in Gilgit-Baltistan, he emphasized that it is high time to take effective steps to control the disease.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif apeaking at an event in Islamabad on Monday (July 28, 2025). Credit: Radio Pakistan

He appreciated the efforts of those involved in the pilot project in Gilgit-Baltistan and expressed confidence that this initiative will lead to the elimination of the disease from the region. He said the federal and provincial governments will work closely together to promote and expand the National Hepatitis C Elimination Program.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal described the National Hepatitis C Elimination Program as a flagship project in the health sector. He expressed confidence that the disease will be eliminated before the current government's term ends. 

In his remarks, Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal vowed to meet the prime minister's expectations in addressing the health related issues.

Hepatitis B and C are preventable and treatable, but if left untreated they can lead to medical complications – including liver cancer – and death. In Pakistan, the most common modes of transmission are unsafe procedures and materials used during blood transfusions – due to unregulated private blood banks and a lack of universal screening, injections with re-used and non-sterile syringes and needles, surgical procedures, dental care, body piercing and tattooing, and shaving – including at barber shops.

Globally, chronic viral hepatitis causes 1.3 million deaths every year, mostly from liver cancer and cirrhosis. That equals 3,500 deaths every day.

WHO will continue to stand side by side with Pakistan to provide science-based guidance and support to strengthen prevention – including the vaccination of newborns against hepatitis B within 24 hours, diagnosis and treatment for all, no matter where they live or who they are.   

On World Hepatitis Day, the World Health Organization reiterates its support for Pakistan to tackle the highest burden of hepatitis C globally, with 10 million of the 60 million cases worldwide.