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Pakistan Launches Massive Hepatitis C Elimination Drive
13 May
Summary
- Pakistan aims to eliminate Hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030.
- The program will provide free, three- to six-month treatment courses.
- Nationwide screening will utilize Nadra integration for maximum outreach.
Pakistan, in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), has initiated the Prime Minister's Hepatitis C Elimination Programme. The ambitious plan aims to eradicate Hepatitis C as a public health concern by the year 2030. This program signifies a major stride towards achieving the global objective set by the World Health Assembly.
Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal announced an allocation of Rs67 billion to combat the disease. The program will provide a complete three- to six-month treatment course free of charge for all patients. This initiative is crucial given that Pakistan has approximately 10 million Hepatitis C patients out of nearly 60 million worldwide, with a significant portion unaware of their condition.
Nationwide screening will be implemented using National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) integration to ensure broad reach and transparency. Initially, 12 screening counters have been set up at federal hospitals in Islamabad. The WHO representative in Pakistan, Dr Luo Dapeng, expressed support, noting the program's potential to avert hundreds of thousands of deaths and new infections by 2050.
