A worrying rise in the spread of hepatitis C has been recorded in Pakistan.
According to a report by the World Health Organization, Pakistan, India, and China together bear 39 percent of the global hepatitis C burden, while Pakistan is among the 10 countries where 58 percent of deaths from hepatitis C have been reported.
The report states that in 2024, 1.34 million deaths occurred worldwide due to hepatitis B and C, and both are among the deadliest diseases in the world.
The WHO said that in 2024, 1.8 million new hepatitis cases were reported globally. Only 20 percent of hepatitis C patients were able to access treatment, while less than 5 percent of hepatitis B patients are receiving treatment.
According to the report, unsafe medical practices and injections are major causes of the spread of the disease. There are concerns in Pakistan over unsafe injections and the reuse of syringes, while fake auto disable syringes may create a false sense of protection.
The World Health Organization stated that the hepatitis B vaccine provides more than 95 percent protection, while hepatitis C is treatable within 8 to 12 weeks. Progress toward achieving the goal of eliminating the disease by 2030 is insufficient.
