WHO Calls for Urgent Action to Combat Hepatitis in Pakistan, Home to World’s Highest Hepatitis C Burden
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for immediate and comprehensive action to address the widespread hepatitis B and C crisis in Pakistan, where more than 13.8 million people are estimated to be living with the diseases. Marking World Hepatitis Day, the organization reiterated its support for Pakistan in tackling the world’s highest burden of hepatitis C, warning that only a quarter of those affected in the country are aware of their infection, hindering access to life-saving treatment.
Pakistan faces an acute hepatitis challenge, with 10 million of the estimated 60 million global hepatitis C cases and 3.8 million people living with hepatitis B. According to WHO, public awareness remains low, as only 25–30% of affected individuals know their status. This lack of diagnosis is a major barrier to stemming the increasing tide of liver disease and cancer caused by untreated hepatitis.
Under the international campaign theme “Let’s break it down,” WHO urged global policymakers and health authorities to make hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment services simpler, more widely available, and better integrated into national health systems. Measures such as vaccination, safe injection practices, harm reduction initiatives, and scaled-up screening are critical to reaching the goal of eliminating hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
Reaffirming its alliance with Pakistan, WHO praised the country’s ambitious Prime Minister’s National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C Infection. This initiative aims to test half of Pakistan’s eligible population—around 82.5 million people aged 12 and above—and provide treatment to five 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.
Hepatitis B and C are both preventable and treatable, but if left unchecked, can result in fatal complications such as liver cancer and cirrhosis. In Pakistan, common transmission routes include unsafe blood transfusions due to unregulated private blood banks, injections with non-sterile or reused syringes, certain surgical and dental procedures, body piercings, tattooing, and even shaving at barber shops.
Globally, chronic viral hepatitis claims 1.3 million lives annually—about 3,500 deaths each day—making it a major global health concern. WHO stressed the importance of strong prevention strategies, such as vaccinating newborns against hepatitis B within the first 24 hours, alongside universal access to diagnosis and treatment services.
The WHO affirmed its commitment to supporting Pakistan with evidence-based guidance and technical assistance, aiming to improve public health systems, promote preventive measures, and ultimately ensure that hepatitis no longer poses a threat to the country’s most vulnerable populations.
