Pakistan Tops World in Hepatitis C Cases, Ministry Tells NA
Hepatitis C Pakistan figures have placed the country first in the world for the number of people living with the disease, the Ministry of National Health Services told the National Assembly. The ministry said nine million people in Pakistan have hepatitis C, while more than 3.86 million have hepatitis B, taking the combined total to 12.9 million.
The figures came in a written briefing to the house covering mental health, hepatitis and HIV. Taken together, more than 45 million people in Pakistan are affected by one of the three, according to the ministry.
Pakistan also stands among the 10 countries with the highest number of deaths from hepatitis, the report said. About 48,000 people die from hepatitis in the country each year, and more than 88,000 new hepatitis C infections were reported in 2024 alone.
Hepatitis C Pakistan: what the ministry reported
The ministry cited World Health Organisation figures in the briefing. Hepatitis C accounts for the larger share of the 12.9 million total, with nine million patients, against more than 3.86 million for hepatitis B. The report did not give a province-wise split for hepatitis in the figures shared with the house.
The annual death toll of about 48,000 sits beside the 2024 figure of more than 88,000 new hepatitis C cases, a pace that keeps pressure on clinics, screening and treatment.
Treatment exists for hepatitis C, and testing is the first step. The briefing, however, points to a detection gap that runs through the whole report. In HIV, for example, only 92,148 of the estimated 417,000 people living with the virus are registered with the authorities. The same pattern of late or missing diagnosis is the central problem in hepatitis, where many people carry the virus for years without symptoms.
Mental health and HIV figures in the same briefing
Mental health disorders affect more than 32.4 million people in Pakistan, the ministry said. The number rose from 30 million in 2019 to 32.4 million in 2023, an increase of 2.4 million in four years. More than 300,000 people in the federal capital alone are affected.
The country has only 1,050 registered psychiatrists, which works out at one specialist for every 245,000 people. Punjab has 406 registered psychiatrists, followed by Sindh with 228, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with 122 and Balochistan with 44, according to the document.
HIV figures show a similar strain. More than 417,000 people are living with HIV in Pakistan, and nearly 3,900 HIV-positive children were registered between January 2025 and June 2026. Of the total, 67,878 people are receiving antiretroviral therapy. Annual cases rose from 16,000 in 2010 to 48,000 in 2024, while screening rose from 37,944 tests in 2020 to 374,000 in 2025.
The screening jump matters. A nearly tenfold rise in HIV testing over five years shows the system can find more cases when it looks for them, yet only 92,148 of an estimated 417,000 HIV cases are registered.
Why the numbers matter
The briefing is a warning about prevention as much as treatment. Hepatitis B and C spread mainly through unsafe blood transfusions, reused syringes and unsterilised medical and dental instruments, and barber tools. Each of those routes is preventable.
For patients, the stakes are plain. Untreated hepatitis C can lead to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer over years, often without early symptoms.
Parliament now has the numbers on record. Free screening drives, like the free breast cancer screening backed by Sherry Rehman, show that large public health pushes are possible when the state commits to them.
Frequently asked questions
How many people in Pakistan have hepatitis C?
Nine million people, according to World Health Organisation figures cited by the Ministry of National Health Services in its briefing to the National Assembly.
How many people have hepatitis B and C combined?
The combined total stands at 12.9 million, with more than 3.86 million hepatitis B patients in addition to the nine million hepatitis C patients.
How many people die from hepatitis in Pakistan each year?
About 48,000 people die from hepatitis in Pakistan each year, according to the ministry’s report.
How many psychiatrists does Pakistan have?
Pakistan has 1,050 registered psychiatrists, or one specialist for every 245,000 people.
How many people in Pakistan are living with HIV?
More than 417,000 people are living with HIV, of whom 92,148 are registered with the authorities and 67,878 are receiving antiretroviral therapy.
*Source: The Express Tribune.*
