Why Were PKLI Hepatitis Filter Clinics Created?

Let’s Break It Down

When I visited the PKLI Hepatitis Filter Clinic in Kasur to document its work for SOULS, I wanted to understand what a Filter Clinic actually does.

At first, the name can be confusing. It may sound like a clinic only for very sick liver patients. But the idea is much more practical.

A Hepatitis Filter Clinic is meant to be an early point of care for people who may have hepatitis B or C. It gives families somewhere closer to home where they can begin screening, show their reports, receive medical guidance and be referred for more specialized care when needed.

What I later learned made the Kasur visit even more meaningful: PKLI’s hepatitis work began before its main hospital opened.

Why were these clinics needed?

Pakistan’s hepatitis problem could never be managed through one large hospital in Lahore.

Many people live far from specialists, and hepatitis B and C can remain unnoticed for years. In 2025, WHO reported that only about 25–30% of people affected by hepatitis B or C in Pakistan knew they had the infection. When people do not know their status, they are less likely to receive timely care.

The risks are also found within everyday healthcare and community settings.

Prof. Dr. Saeed Akhter explained:

“The high prevalence of hepatitis is due to many factors in both health care settings and in the community.”

He pointed to unsafe syringes, blood that was not properly screened, unhygienic dental instruments, reused barber blades and poor infectious-waste disposal.

When the risks exist within communities, prevention, testing and early care also need to reach those communities.

Who developed the programme?

The programme grew through a partnership between PKLI and the Government of Punjab. Prof. Dr. Saeed Akhter was leading PKLI at the time.

WHO reported that Dr. Saeed and his team presented the seriousness of the hepatitis crisis to the Punjab government, showing how many people were becoming ill and dying. That helped gain government support for prevention, testing and treatment. The programme followed guidance from WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So it would not be accurate to describe the clinics as one person’s work alone. The clearer wording is:

The programme was developed through PKLI’s partnership with the Government of Punjab, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Saeed Akhter and his team.

Prof. Dr. Saeed Akhter currently serves as Chairperson of the PKLI Board of Governors.

What do the clinics provide today?

PKLI’s current website reports 18 Hepatitis Filter Clinics across Punjab.

It describes them as the first line of care for people with hepatitis B and C. The clinics offer early screening, timely referral and continued follow-up, supported by trained staff and diagnostic facilities. Patients who need more advanced care can also be connected with specialists at PKLI’s main hospital in Lahore through telehealth.

For an ordinary family, a Filter Clinic may help answer:

Do I need hepatitis testing?

What does my report mean?

Do I need the hepatitis B vaccine?

Do I need treatment or specialist care?

When should I return for follow-up?

The original programme provided free testing and treatment where needed. PKLI’s current website says it provides free treatment to deserving patients. Since eligibility and services may vary, families should call before travelling to ask what is currently available without charge and whether any documents are required.

During my Kasur visit, what stayed with me was the purpose behind the clinic. It was not created to replace a specialist hospital. It was created so that a patient would have somewhere closer to home to begin.

Before visiting, ask:

“Where is my nearest Filter Clinic, what are its timings, and which reports or documents should I bring?”

PKLI Helpline:
📞 042-111-117-554
📞 +92 42 111 117 554

This article is part of the SOULS World Hepatitis Day educational series supporting hepatitis prevention, early testing and access to care in Pakistan.

References

1. PKLI&RC — Our Story: Current information about 18 Hepatitis Filter Clinics
2. World Health Organization — Pakistan Tackles High Rates of Hepatitis From Many Angles
3. PKLI&RC — Board of Governors
4. PKLI&RC — Filter Clinics and Contact Information
5. WHO Pakistan — Action to Detect and Treat People Living With Hepatitis B and C