In view of the spread of Hepatitis C in Pakistan, the government has decided to conduct nationwide screening.
According to Dr. Zia Dawar, Director of the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis Control Program, the number of Hepatitis C patients in the country has exceeded 11 million.
Speaking to media, Dr. Zia Dawar said that every citizen above the age of 12 will be screened for Hepatitis C, with a target of screening a total of 160 million people across the country.
He said that screening, testing and treatment will be carried out in three stages, while the government will bear all expenses related to diagnosis and treatment. The estimated cost of screening and testing is around Rs7,500 per patient, while treatment is estimated to cost up to Rs64,000 per patient.
Dr. Zia Dawar said that all federal government employees will also undergo Hepatitis C testing. A recommendation will be made to withhold the salaries of employees who do not undergo testing. Screening camps will also be established in all ministries.
He further said that all passengers at airports will be screened for Hepatitis C. Screening and treatment facilities have already been made available at 18 government hospitals, while consideration is also underway to start testing at private hospitals.
Hepatitis C affects more than 10 million people and causes about 110,000 new infections each year, according to the health ministry. The Prime Minister’s National Hepatitis C Elimination Program has already commenced, providing free screening, diagnostic testing and a three-month course of antiviral treatment to those diagnosed with the virus.
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