Free hepatitis C screening, diagnostic testing, and treatment services have been introduced in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) under the Prime Minister’s National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C.
According to official sources, three screening centres have been set up in Gilgit-Baltistan and six in AJK to help residents access testing and treatment without charge.
The Ministry of National Health Services has urged people in both regions to visit their nearest designated centres and benefit from the programme, and has encouraged residents to spread awareness among their families and communities.
Under the initiative, patients can receive free initial screening, PCR diagnostic tests valued at around Rs8,000 and treatment worth between Rs34,000 and Rs68,000, with all services provided free of cost to eligible individuals.
Hepatitis C remains a significant public health concern, with an estimated 60 million people affected worldwide and around 11 million in Pakistan.
The virus can spread through contaminated blood, unsafe injections, and infected shaving equipment. If left untreated, the infection can cause serious liver damage and increase the risk of complications, including liver cancer.
The health ministry has stressed that hepatitis C is curable and that early screening, timely diagnosis and completion of treatment are essential to prevent serious health complications and limit the spread of the infection.
Residents seeking further information can contact the government’s toll-free helpline at 1166.
The expansion to Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK follows the introduction of the programme in Islamabad. The government plans to extend free screening, diagnosis and treatment services to other parts of the country as part of its efforts to eliminate hepatitis C nationwide.
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