The federal government has decided to launch a nationwide hepatitis C screening drive as the number of patients in Pakistan has crossed 11 million.
Dr. Zia Dawar, Director of the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis Prevention Program, told Samaa that every citizen above the age of 12 will be screened under the initiative. The government has set a target of screening around 160 million people across the country.
The program will be carried out in three stages covering screening, testing, and treatment, with the government bearing the full cost of diagnosis and treatment.
According to Dr. Dawar, screening and testing are expected to cost around Rs. 7,500 per patient, while treatment expenses could reach up to Rs. 64,000 per patient.
Federal government employees will also be required to undergo hepatitis C testing, while authorities may recommend withholding the salaries of employees who refuse to be tested. Screening camps will be set up across federal ministries to facilitate the process.
The government also plans to screen passengers at airports for hepatitis C.
Screening and treatment facilities have already been established at 18 government hospitals, while authorities are also considering extending testing services to private hospitals.
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