Pakistan becomes first among hepatitis affected countries

Islamabad: Prof. Dr. Saeed Akhtar said that Pakistan has become the country most affected by hepatitis C worldwide.

Prof. Dr. Saeed Akhtar, while holding a conference with international experts on the subject of hepatitis in the United Nations, said: “Earlier Egypt was the number one country affected by this disease, but Egypt has controlled hepatitis in seven years under a systematic plan. This year it is filing an application for hepatitis-free status with the World Health Organization (WHO) after which Pakistan is now the number one country in the world”.

Prof. Dr. Saeed Akhtar is also the Chairman of Board of Pakistan Kidney and Liver Diseases and Transplant Institute (PKLI).

He stated that for the last six years we have started a campaign to eradicate hepatitis from the front of PKLI, first in Punjab and then widened the scope across the country.

The professor also told about the extreme ill-treatment at the hands of the former Chief Justice and the stage of returning to America after leaving his voluntary service for Pakistan.

Dr. Saeed Akhtar, a kidney and liver specialist, said: “Shahbaz Sharif contacted him after becoming the prime minister and asked him to return and now the work is underway to eliminate hepatitis and this institution of Pakistan has been mobilized”.

He called the participation of international experts in the UN conference about this disease beneficial for discussion and familiarization with new research and treatment. The doctor also met and discussed with Dr. Harvey Alter—winner of the World Nobel Prize for hepatitis research—who participated in the conference and has received the Nobel Prize in 2020.

Dr. Saeed continued to say that the strong political support of the national leadership is essential for the elimination of hepatitis, adding that President of Egypt has played an important role in making his country free of this disease in seven years through his effective support.

Chairman of Board of PKLI left the successful practice and engagement of kidney and liver diseases and transplant in America for years and voluntarily came home to serve Pakistan and established PKLI in Lahore for the treatment of kidney and liver diseases during the Nawaz Sharif government. A foundation was established where modern facilities of free treatment are also provided to the poor.

Doctor said that he returned to America after the Chief Justice of his time Saqib Nisar took a suo moto and ignored the voluntary services of this overseas Pakistani based on personal interest and stubbornness.

Seeing the decline in the performance of Pakistan Institute of Kidney and Liver Diseases, upon becoming the Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif requested him to return to Pakistan and improve the institution, so Dr. Saeed Akhtar returned to Pakistan again and is doing voluntary services and made this institution a research center.