According to a concerning World Health Organization (WHO) report. Pakistan has 8.8 million more viral hepatitis C infections than any other country in the world. Furthermore, 44% of newly diagnosed cases. of hepatitis C are linked to unsafe medical injections.
Egypt and Pakistan had previously reported. The highest numbers of cases of hepatitis C and B, respectively.
The estimated number of deaths from viral hepatitis increased from 1.1 million in 2019. To 1.3 million in 2022, according to data from 187 countries. According to the report, hepatitis B caused 83 percent of these, and hepatitis C caused 17 percent.
With about 12.6 million cases reported in 2022, Pakistan only trails China. India, Indonesia, and Nigeria in the world’s hepatitis B and hepatitis C case. Counts when both diseases are combined.
According to WHO’s Global Hepatitis Report 2024. This nation is responsible for 44% of new infections caused by contaminated injections.
Ten nations, including Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Vietnam. The Philippines, and the Russian Federation, make up nearly two thirds of the world’s. Cases of viral hepatitis B and C, according to the WHO’s Global Hepatitis Report 2024.
Six nations account for half of the world’s hepatitis C cases. China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, and the United States. On the other hand, according to the report, Egypt is now the first nation to reach gold. Tier status on the path to hepatitis elimination. This achievement is based on Egypt meeting WHO criteria. Which will position Egypt to meet the reduced incidence. And mortality targets of full elimination before 2030.
What the reports said about Hepatitis C in December 2023?
Furthermore, the report stated that as of December 2023, 16 countries. Had received validation for having eradicated one or more of HIV, syphilis, and HBV.
Senior medical experts have commented on the report. Stating that the majority of patients in Pakistan are either diagnosed incidentally. Or develop symptoms years after contracting the infection.
With a national prevalence of 4.8%. Pakistan has been carrying the second-highest burden of hepatitis C worldwide. According to Dr. Masood Sheikh of the Lahore General Hospital, who spoke with Dawn.
He stated, “There was an 8 percent increase in hepatitis B-related deaths. And a 5 percent increase in hepatitis C-related deaths from 2015 to 2019.”
Due to unsafe healthcare practices, sharing personal items. And ignorance of sterilisation techniques, the virus multiplied in Pakistan. He bemoaned the fact that during the previous 20 years, the number of liver cancer cases. And liver transplants had increased threefold nationwide.
“Hepatitis is an inflammatory disease of the liver that can lead. To various health complications and even death,” Dr. Sheikh stated.
Information on the availability of medical supplies for the treatment of viral hepatitis. From 38 nations, which together account for nearly 80% of the world’s cases. Of viral hepatitis B and C, is also included in the most recent WHO report.
According to updated WHO estimates, 50 million people worldwide. Will have hepatitis and 254 million people will have hepatitis B in 2022.
“In the 30-54 age group, half of the burden of chronic hepatitis B and C infections was diagnosed. With 12 percent occurring among children under the age of 18,” the report states. Fifty-eight percent of the cases involve men.
One bright spot can be found in drug pricing data. The lowest recorded cost for a 12-week course of daclatasvir/sofosbuvir. A combination of two drugs used to treat hepatitis , came from Pakistan and was approximately $33. China had the highest price ever recorded, at roughly $10,000.
