Doctors want govt to devise strategy to eliminate hepatitis by 2030

Treatment is not costly, patients can be easily cured if the disease is diagnosed at early stage, say experts

KARACHI: Health experts expressed concern over the growing numbers of hepatitis cases in Pakistan and urged the government to take immediate measures for its elimination to achieve the goal of ending its prevalence in the country by 2030, during a seminar held on Saturday.

The seminar was organised by the Express Media Group, World Gastroenterology Organisation and Hilton Pharma, in observance of the World Hepatitis Day on July 28.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Amina Subhan said that about five per cent of Pakistan's population suffers from hepatitis B, while four per cent is a victim of hepatitis C. "Both are chronic conditions," she said, adding that both the conditions can be easily treated in Pakistan. She stressed that while the treatment for hepatitis is not costly, the diseases need to be diagnosed timely in order for it to be treated successfully.

She said that even a common practitioner can treat a hepatitis patient if the disease is diagnosed at an early stage.  However, she also stressed that people take precautionary measures for disease prevention, as hepatitis is a preventable disease.  Sharing details about the factors that result in the spread of hepatitis, Dr Muhammad Kamran said that unsafe blood transfusion and unsafe injection practices are the main factors that contribute to the rapid spread of the disease.

He said, "There is no need to use injection in case a hepatitis patient develops fever, as he can be easily treated through medicines too."

Dr Kamran said that no new treatment for the disease has been introduced during the past 12 years, urging the public to get vaccination for hepatitis.

"Creating awareness [about hepatitis, its treatment and prevention] is the need of the hour," he said.

Addressing the audience, Dr Zahid Azam said that the seminar aimed at creating awareness about hepatitis among masses, as well as medical practitioners. He stressed that patients suffering from severe complications, due to hepatitis, must be immediately referred to a tertiary care hospital. He further said that the treatment of hepatitis is no more a challenge for doctors. In the past, injections were required to treat the disease but now, it can also be treated through medicines, he added. He urged the audience to play their part in eliminating the disease from the country.

Meanwhile, Dr Zegham said that "Hepatitis isn't a problem limited to Pakistan."

"It is prevalent in several countries," he added and asked the doctors to avoid using a syringe more than once, in order to curb the spread of hepatitis.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sajad Jamil advised the use of boiled water for drinking, for the prevention of hepatitis E. He said that hepatitis E and A spread because of the consumption of unhealthy food. Dr Jamil also criticised the screening system in blood banks across Sindh for not being reliable and being a source of spreading various diseases.

Expressing concern over the rapid spread of hepatitis worldwide, Dr Wasim Jaffery termed it a "global issue." He said that people need to have knowledge about the source of the disease to be able to prevent it.

People residing in remote areas of the country need to be informed about the alarming spread of hepatitis and common practices that lead to its prevalence, such as the use of syringes, he added.

According to Dr Jaffery, 95 per cent people suffering from hepatitis in Pakistan can be easily treated if diagnosed timely.  

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2019.