The CCVHEP was announced at a press conference which was also attended by Dr Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, and senior officials from the Ministry of National Health Services.
Gilead Sciences Inc also announced that it has partnered with 12 leading companies in Pakistan as part of the CCVHEP programme to support the efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis in Pakistan by 2030. Dr Sania Nishtar said that the government is taking steps for betterment in health sector. The collaboration with the private sector is vital to eradicate different diseases from the country, said the special assistant, adding that hepatitis can be prevented through adopting precautionary measures while creating awareness is also important in this regard.
Dr Sania Nishtar said that it is hoped to eliminate viral hepatitis in Pakistan by promoting public-private collaborations. It is important area for the government to focus on, as this disease disproportionately inflicts the poor and marginalized who usually suffer at the hands of bad health systems and practices.
For all these reasons, the public health goal of viral hepatitis elimination and the launch of this coalition to support this cause are extremely opportune. It is indeed a very pragmatic step by the industry and stakeholders. There is a need that the government understands that elimination of viral hepatitis on a national scale requires public awareness and appropriate prevention strategies to tackle the epidemic, she added.
Clifford Samuel, SVP of Access Operations and Emerging Markets at Gilead Sciences said, "Gilead Sciences is committed to working in partnership with governments, NGOs and the private sector to eliminate viral hepatitis in countries where the infection is highly prevalent. I am pleased to see the launch of the Corporate Coalition for Viral Hepatitis Elimination in Pakistan and I thank the leaders of these socially responsible companies for sharing our goal to help eliminate viral hepatitis in Pakistan by 2030."
The coalition is led by a partnership between Gilead Sciences and Pakistan partner, Ferozsons Laboratories Limited with founding members including Abbott Pakistan, Atlas Honda, Citibank Pakistan, Descon Oxychem Limited, InspecTest (Pvt) Limited, Jazz, Nestlé Pakistan, Packages Limited, Pepsico Pakistan, Sapphire and Service Sales Corporation. It aims to improve awareness, screening, and linkage-to-care for viral hepatitis. It is also committed to ensuring a discrimination-free work environment for those with the disease.
"Viral hepatitis is a disease of epidemic proportions in Pakistan, impacting more than 7% of the entire population. It has severe implications for our national productivity as well as our health indicators. Pakistan is committed to eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. The launch of the Corporate Coalition for Viral Hepatitis Elimination, consisting of Pakistan's most respected private sector employers, is a very encouraging development in this context," said Allah Baksh Malik, Secretary Ministry for National Health Services.
"Addressing hepatitis is foremost in national government's health policy, and we will be launching the Prime Minister's Programme for Hepatitis Prevention and Control on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day later this month. We are also contemplating to launch a national screening programme for hepatitis and linking it to effective treatment services. We invite the private sector to join hands with the government in helping achieve our national elimination goals," he added.