Islamabad: The Federal Minister for Health, Mustafa Kamal, chaired a high-level meeting to assess the progress and preparedness for eliminating Hepatitis C in Pakistan.

According to the Press Information Department, the meeting included participation from heads of federal hospitals, the District Health Officer Islamabad, the Director of the Hepatitis C Program, and senior officials such as the CEO of the National Institute of Health, the Director General Health, and representatives from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics and NADRA. The main focus was to evaluate the establishment and operational readiness of Hepatitis C diagnostic counters as part of a national strategy for elimination.

With over 10 million affected individuals, Pakistan holds a significant portion of the global Hepatitis C burden. The Health Minister emphasized the need for immediate interventions. In the initial phase, 21 diagnostic counters will be set up in Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. This initiative will expand in the second phase to include 84 facilities in Islamabad, 618 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and 1,012 in AJK.

The Minister directed that 12 counters in Islamabad be operational by next week and called for the timely provision of screening kits. A soft launch of these counters is planned, with positive cases confirmed through PCR testing and free treatment for all patients.

Highlighting the importance of screening, early diagnosis, and treatment, Mr. Kamal reiterated the commitment to eliminate Hepatitis C by 2030, labeling it a national cause that requires collective effort. Protecting citizens’ health remains a government priority, he concluded.