Highest HCV burden

The healthcare system of Pakistan is currently in such a state that it sometimes punishes citizens for seeking treatment. Many people walk into a hospital seeking affordable medical care and, unbeknownst to them, walk out carrying a highly dangerous viral infection. More often than not, they find out until it is too late.

The reuse of syringes, unsafe blood transfusions and improper sterilisation practices are unfortunately alarmingly common. This negligence has propelled Pakistan to the top of global rankings for Hepatitis C (HCV), with 9.8 to 10 million cases. Combined with Hepatitis B (HBV), between 13.8 and 15 million Pakistanis are believed to be living with either virus - and only 25 to 30 per cent are aware of it. The abnormally high number of cases is a direct result of an unchecked medical culture which allows for over 600,000 quack doctors to operate in Pakistan. Often unlicensed, these clinics prioritise profits over patients' safety and end up exposing millions of people to a deadly infection.

The trouble with HCV, which directly impacts the liver, is that its symptoms can take decades to materialise. By then, the liver has suffered enough damage to be at risk of scarring, failure or cancer. In a country where even basic outpatient treatment is difficult for many citizens to access, expecting them to show up for unprompted and regular medical checkups or screening tests can only be wishful thinking.

A programme for the elimination of HCV by 2050 was kickstarted last year but the government has a pattern of identifying problems only to abandon them - much like last year's crackdown on a Punjab hospital responsible for 331 children contracting HIV. What is needed now is relentless, accessible screening across all regions and income groups, alongside the permanent closure of unlicensed clinics. HCV should be treated no less than a medical crisis.