Roche Diagnostics Pakistan organized a Dialogue for Hepatitis Elimination on 15th December 2022 at The Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. The high-profile event was attended by dignitaries, leading clinicians, government personnel, Ministry of Health and the media. Distinguished experts from Pakistan, USA and APAC exchanged diverse experiences and shared best practices to provoke conversations to help accelerate Pakistan’s hepatitis elimination response.
Pakistan has the second-highest burden of hepatitis C globally with one of the world’s highest HCV-related deaths yearly. It is estimated that during the peak of the Covid pandemic in Pakistan, hepatitis killed three to four times more people than Covid-19. Pakistan loses around 24,000 people yearly to complications from hepatitis C such as chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, which is the most common type of liver cancer. According to World Health Organization (WHO), more than 90% of people with HCV can be completely cured within 3 to 6 months. Due to the asymptomatic nature of the infection, many HCV carriers do not have any symptoms until the liver damage becomes very serious without proper access to diagnostics and treatment.
Roche is committed to supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to eradicate hepatitis by 2030 by working with key stakeholders to transform the healthcare system for better disease monitoring and health outcomes – for patients and society. However, addressing the root of the problem and fast-tracking hepatitis C elimination efforts in Pakistan requires a long-term vision and government support.
Abdul Qayyum, Country Manager – Roche Diagnostics Pakistan & Afghanistan said, “Roche Diagnostics Pakistan is actively working with key public and private stakeholders to improve the ways diagnostics are delivered and achieve the global infectious disease elimination goals. We are committed to ensuring a hepatitis-free Pakistan by enabling sustainable access to world-class diagnostics for the people – no matter where they live in Pakistan.”
Dr Huma Qureshi, National Focal Person on Viral Hepatitis – “Pakistan is the source of hepatitis in 9.8 million people. Nearly 25,000 people pass away as a result of the illness. Only 22% have received an HCV diagnosis. Pakistan lacks the necessary funds to completely eradicate the disease, thus we have been struggling. We can definitely eradicate the disease if we work together and receive adequate funding from the government.’’
Transforming the diagnostics ecosystem is only possible through partnerships that address the persistent challenges that patients face in their health journey. As an experienced leader in infectious disease, Roche Diagnostics Pakistan has stepped up as a trusted partner to provide patient-focused, reliable and long-standing services by delivering robust screening assays and instruments to contribute towards enabling a hepatitis-free Pakistan.
