Islamabad (GNP): As the world observes World Hepatitis Day, Pakistan stands with the global community in renewing its resolve to eliminate hepatitis and safeguard citizens from this serious disease. The country continues to carry one of the world’s heaviest burdens of Hepatitis C, a challenge it has grappled with for many years.
Providing every citizen fair access to quality screening, diagnosis, and treatment for the most dangerous and life-threatening hepatitis strains remains a top government priority. Since Hepatitis C can be both prevented and cured, the government rolled out the Prime Minister’s National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C Infection in 2025 — a landmark initiative designed to deliver free screening, confirmatory testing, and effective treatment to millions of Pakistanis.
The programme is already up and running in Islamabad, with major public hospitals and healthcare facilities taking part. Mobile screening units have also been deployed to bring these services closer to communities. Anyone needing further testing or treatment is enrolled in the programme at no cost.
To help stop the disease from spreading, authorities have banned the production, sale, and reuse of substandard syringes altogether. Hospitals and clinics have been directed to strictly follow infection-control and hygiene protocols, with tighter accountability measures for any lapses.
The federal government says it will keep making the most of available resources while deepening cooperation with provincial authorities, development partners, medical professionals, and the private sector — all aimed at reducing the disease’s toll and ensuring no patient in need goes without treatment.
Also Read: UN Secretary General Reaffirms Support for Women’s Role
Beating hepatitis and other infectious diseases, however, isn’t something government action alone can achieve — it also depends on individual and community involvement. Citizens are being encouraged to get tested for Hepatitis C without delay, urge family, friends, and coworkers to do the same, and follow safe medical and hygiene practices, since catching and treating the disease early can be life-saving.
Doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and other frontline health workers were singled out for praise as the backbone of this national effort, with a call for them to keep upholding high standards of professionalism, dedication, and compassion in their work.
The statement closed with a renewed pledge to build a healthier Pakistan, expressing confidence that through joint effort, scientific progress, public involvement, and divine blessing, the country will meet its goal — in line with the global target — of eliminating Hepatitis C as a major public health threat by 2030.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
