The federal government has decided to launch a nationwide hepatitis C screening campaign as the number of patients in Pakistan has crossed 11 million.
Under the initiative, the government plans to screen around 160 million people across the country.
Dr. Zia Dawar, Director of the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis Prevention Program, said every citizen above the age of 12 will be screened.
The government will cover the full cost of diagnosis and treatment under the programme.
Screening, Testing and Treatment in Three Stages
The nationwide campaign will be implemented in three stages.
The first stage will focus on screening people for hepatitis C. Those who require further assessment will undergo testing.
Patients diagnosed with the disease will then receive treatment under the government programme.
According to Dr. Dawar, screening and testing are expected to cost around Rs7,500 per patient.
Treatment expenses could reach up to Rs64,000 per patient, depending on the requirements.
The government has already established screening and treatment facilities at 18 government hospitals.
Authorities are also considering expanding testing services to private hospitals to increase access for patients across the country.
Government Employees and Airport Passengers to Be Screened
Federal government employees will also be required to undergo hepatitis C testing as part of the campaign.
Authorities may recommend withholding the salaries of employees who refuse to undergo the required testing.
To facilitate government workers, screening camps will be established across federal ministries.
The government is also planning to screen passengers at airports for hepatitis C.
The initiative is aimed at expanding early detection and ensuring that infected individuals can be identified and provided treatment without bearing the full financial burden themselves.
With more than 11 million reported patients, the nationwide campaign represents a major government effort to expand hepatitis C screening, diagnosis and treatment across Pakistan.
