September 19, 2006	Tuesday	Sha'aban 25, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 18: The Pakistan Medical and Research Council (PMRC) will launch a survey in November to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B and C in the country.

Speaking at a seminar “Scientific update on hepatitis” on Monday, Executive Director PMRC Dr Huma Qureshi said the baseline survey would be repeated after five years. The repeat survey besides updating the figures would also show the impact of the prime minister’s hepatitis control programme.

Current estimates show that the prevalence of Hepatitis B and C ranges from 3-4 percent to 5-6 percent, respectively. Nevertheless, the exact quantum of the problem is yet to be determined. All studies conducted so far have been by researchers in their private capacities.

Quoting another PMRC survey, she said the biggest reason for the spread of Hepatitis C in the country was the use of intramuscular injections followed by the use of shaving tools and unhygienic practices of barbers.

Pakistan ranks 4th among the highest users of intramuscular injections.

She said blood donation and surgery were not important means of transmission of Hepatitis B and C viruses in Pakistan.

She stressed that both chronic Hepatitis B and C were treatable but not all cases should be treated. “Those who shouldn’t be treated include patients having ascites, edema, enlarged spleen; those who have bled are having low albumin, are non-responders to previous adequate treatment, relapsers, pregnant cases, renal failure, cardiac and thyroid disease cases.

Sharing the statistics about the success of injections for treatment of Hepatitis C in the country, she said the response was 66.5 percent as compared to 80 percent generally claimed by pharmaceutical companies. Moreover, the sustained response was 55.4 percent.

She was of the opinion that in many cases the injections for treatment of Hepatitis C were not administered properly making the virus tougher and mutant. The PMRC official said the appropriate method for administering Hepatitis C injections was subcutaneous.

She suggested that the patients should be trained to take the injections themselves, so that the chances of health workers contracting the disease could be minimised.