Viral hepatitis claims approximately 1.3 million lives each year, yet it receives far less attention than other pandemics. Hepatitis B and C often go undetected for years, causing silent deaths. Pakistan's decision to use the UN platform to rally international support for stronger global action against viral hepatitis was both timely and necessary.
WHO Report Highlights Global Shortfalls
The timing of Pakistan's diplomatic push coincided with the WHO's Global Hepatitis Report 2026, which reveals that the world is falling behind on its promise to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030. Although tools to prevent, diagnose, and cure the disease exist, progress remains dangerously off track. Around 287 million people worldwide live with chronic hepatitis B or C, and treatment coverage is alarmingly inadequate. Millions who have been diagnosed are still waiting for life-saving therapy, and preventable deaths continue to mount.
Pakistan's Hepatitis C Crisis
For Pakistan, the report carries an even grimmer message. The country now has the world's largest population living with hepatitis C, with an estimated nine million infections. It also ranks among the ten countries responsible for the overwhelming majority of global hepatitis C-related deaths. This staggering burden underscores the urgency of national action.
Government Response and National Task Force
The government's response deserves cautious recognition. The Prime Minister's Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C, backed by an investment of $250 million and implemented in partnership with WHO, is a welcome initiative. The decision to place the prime minister at the head of the National Task Force signals that the issue is finally receiving attention at the highest political level. If implemented effectively, the programme has the potential to become one of Pakistan's most significant public health interventions in decades.
