Private sector urged to supplement hepatitis treatment efforts
Bilal said there was high incidence of hepatitis in Samundri and Faisalabad areas. “Worldwide, 2.5 per cent of the population is affected by hepatitis virus. However, the ratio is at 7 per cent in Pakistan,” he said. PHOTO: EXPRESS ILLUSTRATION
Pakistan has the second highest prevalence of Hepatitis C in the region which leads to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, cancer, and death, noted health experts at an online consultative dialogue.
Availability of rapid diagnostic tests and cost effective DAA (direct-acting antiviral) tablets has revolutionised the roll out of hepatitis C screening and treatment which can now be offered through primary and secondary care facilities.
In an effort to integrate private providers to address the disparity in access to diagnostics and treatment for the hepatitis C virus, the Ministry of National Health Services Regulation & Coordination (MoNHSRC) in partnership with the Aga Khan University and the Asian Development Bank hosted a Consultative Dialogue with provincial and federal programmes on “Programmatic Options for Private Provider Engagement to Supplement Hepatitis C Services.”
Key objectives of the webinar were to seek federal and provincial deliberations on the policy document to contextualise options into respective national and provincial strategies.
According to Federal Director General Health Dr Rana Safdar, “Public-private partnership approaches to health can enable expansion to affordable access to early screening, testing, case notification and treatment, helping the government deliver on national targets”.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2022.