Pakistan Launches Free Hepatitis C Screening and Treatment Program Nationwide
Pakistan has officially launched the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis C Elimination Program in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), aiming to eliminate Hepatitis C across the country by 2030.
The nationwide initiative was soft-launched in Islamabad and will focus on mass screening, early diagnosis, and free treatment for millions of citizens. The campaign is expected to reach more than 164 million people in different phases.
During the first phase, authorities plan to screen around 1.6 million people in Islamabad Capital Territory within the next six months.
Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal called the Rs67 billion project one of Pakistan’s largest public health initiatives. He said nearly 10 million Pakistanis are currently living with Hepatitis C, while approximately 110,000 new infections occur every year due to unsafe injections, contaminated blood transfusions, and needle-related drug use.
The minister warned that untreated Hepatitis C can lead to serious liver diseases, including liver cancer, and stressed the importance of preventive healthcare.
Key features of the program include:
- Free Hepatitis C screening and treatment across Pakistan
- Nationwide screening support through NADRA
- Twelve screening counters established at federal hospitals in Islamabad
- Free treatment courses lasting three to six months for diagnosed patients
Officials said the programme could save billions of rupees in future healthcare and hospitalisation costs over the next five years.
WHO Representative in Pakistan, Luo Dapeng, said the campaign could help prevent up to 850,000 deaths and 1.1 million new Hepatitis C infections by 2050.
He reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Pakistan with international best practices and science-based healthcare strategies.
Separately, Pakistan and the United States also discussed expanding cooperation in healthcare during a meeting between Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal and US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S. Paul Kapur.
Both countries agreed to strengthen collaboration in public health, disease prevention, and healthcare delivery initiatives in Pakistan.
