Hepatitis Becomes Silent Killer in Balochistan; 90% Patients Unaware, Treatment Facilities Scarce

Quetta (Daily Qudrat) — **Hepatitis**, commonly referred to as **“Kala Yarqan”**, has reached alarming levels in Balochistan, turning the province into a hotspot for this deadly disease. Despite the escalating crisis, experts say that **government action remains insufficient**.

According to global statistics, **one person dies every 30 seconds from hepatitis** worldwide, yet the situation in Balochistan is reportedly even worse. Medical specialists highlight that during the peak of the **COVID-19 pandemic**, deaths caused by hepatitis were **four times higher than those caused by COVID-19**, but no effective provincial strategy has been implemented to control the disease.

**Professor Dr. Sadiq Achakzai**, a leading expert in liver, stomach, and intestinal diseases, stated that **90% of patients in Balochistan are unaware of their condition until it is too late**. Many patients arrive at hospitals with advanced liver damage or cancer. He noted a rapid increase in diseases affecting the liver, pancreas, stomach, esophagus, and intestines, but lamented that **public hospitals lack adequate diagnostic and treatment facilities**.

Dr. Achakzai highlighted the **limited availability of advanced endoscopy and ERCP testing** in the province, forcing many patients to travel to other provinces for treatment. He praised institutions such as **SIAG (Sindh Institute of Advanced Gastroenterology)** and **Gambat Liver Transplant Center** in Sindh for providing world-class liver transplant and gastroenterology services, which Balochistan currently lacks.

He urged the **Balochistan government** to urgently **establish a modern gastroenterology and liver treatment center in Quetta**, in collaboration with SIAG and Gambat-style institutions. Public advocacy groups also criticized the provincial government for its **neglect, lack of seriousness, and ongoing disregard for the health sector**, warning that the province could become a hub for hepatitis and other diseases if immediate measures are not taken.

Citizens have demanded that **modern health centers and diagnostic facilities** be established across Balochistan without delay, warning that the situation could worsen dramatically in the coming years if urgent action is not taken.