Department of Public Administration and Policy, Rockefeller College, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA.
Global Institute for Health and Human Rights (GIHHR), University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA.
Int J Health Policy Manag. 2018 Mar 1;7(3):207-209. doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2017.120.
Blood transfusions are contributing to a higher rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Pakistan. Half of all blood transfusions in Pakistan are not screened for hepatitis C, hepatitis B or HIV. Family members donate blood that is likely not tested due to social stigma attached to HCV. Paid donations are also quite common in the country, especially by people who inject drugs (PWID), which increases the population's exposure to HCV. Most of the population utilizes the private sector for their health needs; this sector has lax regulation due to the lack of oversight by the government or any other regulatory body. In addition, groups who are at most need for blood transfusions, such as hemophiliacs and those with thalassemia, have a higher rate of hepatitis C. This fact reinforces the need for blood transfusion reform in Pakistan, which includes improving oversight, upgrading infrastructure and promoting health literacy through cultural norms, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. The lessons learned in Pakistan can be adapted to countries facing similar issues.
输血导致巴基斯坦丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）感染率上升。在巴基斯坦，有一半的输血都没有针对丙型肝炎、乙型肝炎或艾滋病进行筛查。由于丙型肝炎带来的社会耻辱感，家庭成员捐赠的血液可能未经检测。在该国，有偿献血也很常见，尤其是注射毒品者（PWID），这增加了人群感染丙型肝炎的风险。大多数人利用私营部门满足其卫生需求；由于政府或任何其他监管机构缺乏监督，该部门的监管宽松。此外，血友病患者和地中海贫血症患者等最需要输血的群体，丙型肝炎感染率更高。根据世界卫生组织（WHO）的建议，这一事实凸显了巴基斯坦需要进行输血改革，包括加强监督、升级基础设施以及通过文化规范提高健康素养。巴基斯坦吸取的经验教训可以适用于面临类似问题的国家。
