Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, has launched the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis C Elimination Program aimed at eliminating the disease in Pakistan by 2030.
The program was soft-launched in Islamabad and forms part of a phased nationwide campaign targeting more than 164 million people through mass screening, early diagnosis, and free treatment.
Under the initial phase, authorities aim to reach 1.6 million people in the Islamabad Capital Territory within the next six months.
Addressing the ceremony, Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal described the Rs67 billion initiative as a historic step toward building a healthier Pakistan and one of the country’s largest public health programs.
The minister said nearly 10 million Pakistanis are currently living with Hepatitis C, while around 110,000 new infections are reported every year, mainly due to unsafe injections, blood transfusions, and drug use involving needles.
He warned that untreated Hepatitis C can lead to liver cancer and stressed the need to shift Pakistan’s healthcare system from a treatment-focused approach to preventive healthcare.
As part of the campaign:
- Hepatitis C screening and treatment will be provided free of cost
- Nationwide screening will be conducted with support from the National Database and Registration Authority
- Twelve screening counters have already been established at federal hospitals in Islamabad
- A complete three-to-six-month treatment course will be offered free to patients
The minister urged citizens to actively participate in the screening drive, saying public cooperation is essential for the programme’s success.
Referring to Egypt’s successful Hepatitis C elimination campaign, Kamal said Pakistan could also achieve similar results through collective national efforts.
According to estimates shared during the ceremony, the programme could save more than Rs1.3 billion in treatment costs and over Rs2 billion in hospitalisation expenses over the next five years.
By 2030, officials estimate a return of $8 for every $1 invested in the program.
WHO Representative in Pakistan, Luo Dapeng, said the initiative could help prevent 850,000 deaths and 1.1 million new Hepatitis C infections by 2050.
He reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Pakistan in implementing science-based strategies and international best practices to eliminate the disease.
Separately, Pakistan and the United States also reaffirmed cooperation in the health sector 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 sides agreed to strengthen collaboration on public health, disease prevention, and healthcare delivery initiatives in Pakistan.
