A Health Systems Strengthening Approach to Address the High Burden of Hepatitis C in Pakistan

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus infection is a serious liver disease that can progress to cirrhosis and, in chronic cases, lead to liver cancer or liver failure. Pakistan has the second highest burden of HCV in the world, a rising number of liver cancer cases and a unique pattern of healthcare-associated HCV transmission. Unfortunately, the country is not on track to meet the WHO's target of complete elimination of HCV by 2030. The current reliance on vertical programmes for hepatitis elimination may seem effective in the short term, but is often unsustainable, ineffective and contributes to the fragmentation of the health system. This review proposes a health system strengthening approach to HCV detection and prevention in the country. It critically evaluates the country's health system and the existing evidence on HCV prevention and treatment, proposing evidence-based strategies for decentralising HCV services and integrating them into the primary healthcare infrastructure. It examines the effectiveness of methods such as task shifting and targeted interventions while suggesting changes to healthcare practices to reduce healthcare-associated transmission of HCV and other blood-borne pathogens.