WHO released guidelines for policymaker on World Hepatitis Day 2019. I am discussing two (1st and 10th) of those guidelines briefly in this presentation. I presented this on webinar titled 'Session on Policy Reform' organized by Volunteer Force Against Hepatitis Transmission (VFAHT) on 22nd July, 2020. You can watch the presentation here: https://www.facebook.com/vfaht.org/videos/889905641498191/ Top 10 messages for policymakers: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hepatitis-day/2019/10-messages-for-policymakers

1. Khubaib Samdani
Rawalpindi Medical University
khubaibsamdani

2. WHO GUIDELINES FOR
POLICY MAKERS
Released on World Hepatitis Day
2019

3. 1. Lack Of Awareness Regarding
Fatality And Prevalence Of
Hepatitis
Viral hepatitis is a leading infectious killer, yet the majority of global leaders and
the public remain unaware.
Source: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hepatitis-day/2019/10-messages-for-
policymakers

4. • Eighth highest cause of mortality, 1.34 million deaths in 2015, a toll
comparable to that of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
• 257 million persons are chronically infected with hepatitis B and 71
million with hepatitis C.
• Projected 20 million deaths between 2015-30.
Global Statistics
Source: https://www.who.int/health-topics/hepatitis#tab=tab_1

5. Source: Regional action plan for the implementation of the global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis
2017–2021

6. Statistics from Pakistan
• Hepatitis C 7.1 million
• Hepatitis B 5 million
• 150,000 new cases each year
Source: Ali, Syed Asad et al. “Hepatitis B and hepatitis C in Pakistan: prevalence and risk factors.” International journal of infectious
diseases : IJID:official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases vol. 13,1 (2009): 9-19. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2008.06.019

7. Statistics from Pakistan
• According to WHO, 23,720 people died of hepatitis-related causes in
Pakistan in 2016, which compares to a bus full of 64 people
everyday.
• Pakistan has the world’s second highest prevalence of hepatitis C,
second only to Egypt. A survey done in 2007 found that close to 7%
of people in province of Punjab had hepatitis C, while around 5% of
people were infected in the entire country.
Source: https://www.who.int/health-topics/hepatitis#tab=tab_1

8. Source: Regional action plan for the implementation of the global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis
2017–2021

9. There are several challenges that hinder elimination of HCV from Pakistan
including
- Patient Awareness
- Affordability for investigations and drug treatment
- Experienced healthcare professionals
- Lack of effective drugs and delayed regulatory approval
- Compromised monitoring by health authorities
- Lack of robust epidemiological data
- Inadequately screened blood transfusion, improperly sterilized invasive
medical devices, unsafe injections
Elimination of hepatitis from Pakistan by 2030: is it possible?

10. Five strategic directions:
o Leadership, good governance and advocacy
o Information for focused action
o Interventions for impact
o Systems strengthening for equitable access
o Financing for sustainability
Source: Regional action plan for the implementation of the global health sector strategy on viral
hepatitis 2017–2021

11. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
• Political leadership, National strategies and policy change.
(Pakistan needs to show strong political and financial commitments in the fight against
hepatitis. Pakistan will need to invest about 9·0% of its yearly health expenditure to enable
sufficient scale up in screening and treatment to achieve the WHO hepatitis C elimination target of
an 80% reduction in incidence by 2030.* )
• Improve Hepatitis Surveillance System at National level. Generate data to better
understand epidemics. Recognize high exposure groups ad transmission routes.
• Speedup screening & diagnosis and find the missing millions
• Scale-up treatment and increase compliance
• Support from pharmaceutical, medical and civil societies
• Learn from other countries (Australia)
The elimination of Hepatitis from Pakistan by 2030 seems impossible with the current initiatives.
Source: Study published in Lancet: Effects and cost of different strategies to eliminate hepatitis C virus transmission in Pakistan: a modelling analysis

13. 10. Sharing Information
To Spread Awareness
Awareness is the greatest agent for change
Source: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hepatitis-day/2019/10-messages-for-
policymakers

14. Interventions to spread awareness
o Events, seminars and workshops
o Creativity and innovation
o Social media & SMS
o Invite celebrities to be a part of cause
o Involve media
o Train healthcare professionals
o Educational compaign

15.  On World Hepatitis Day 2020, join the cause to help 325 million people.
 Stop ignorance and neglect of viral hepatitis – share information about it.
 Educate yourself and others to learn risks for viral hepatitis, and access
testing services.
Checklist

16. Acknowledgements
 All authors of all cited studies and webpages
 My team mates: Rida Muneer, Haider Mubeen, Syeda Ambreen Fatima, Saad Azhar,
Muhammad Amaz Tahir, Muhammad Azhar Abbas
 My friend who helped me with my presentation