Hepatitis C Screening To Be Made Mandatory Nationwide: Kamal
ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 18th Aug, 2026)
Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal announced:
Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday announced a nationwide expansion of Hepatitis C screening under the Prime Minister’s Programme for the Prevention of disease, urging every eligible Pakistani to undergo screening for the potentially life-threatening disease.
Talking to the media after inaugurating Hepatitis C screening for Ministry of Health officials, the minister said screening had been made mandatory for all employees of the ministry. He stated that measures were also being taken to make screening compulsory for employees of all federal ministries, with letters being sent to all ministries regarding this initiative.
The minister informed that 17 screening points had been established in Islamabad, while private hospitals would be provided with screening kits and digital gadgets to facilitate the process. The program is set to be extended across the country subsequently.
"Every Pakistani will have to undergo screening," he emphasized, adding that the screening of individuals aged above 12 would be prioritized.
Kamal highlighted that around 11 million people in
Pakistan
are currently Hepatitis C positive, describing the disease as hazardous due to its often undetected progression until severe complications arise. He warned:
"If Hepatitis C is not diagnosed and treated in time, it can develop into liver cancer."
Emphasizing the importance of early screening and treatment, Kamal revealed that medicines costing around Rs68,000 would be provided free of charge to patients under the Prime Minister’s program. He encouraged people to avail themselves of the complimentary screening and treatment facilities.
The minister also mentioned that screening would be conducted in Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad. He proposed making Hepatitis C screening mandatory for deported individuals upon their return to Pakistan, as well as implementing the process for all flights over a three-month period.
Utilizing gadgets provided by the Bureau of Statistics along with census software, Kamal explained that the system is connected with NADRA records for efficient identification and tracking of individuals. He added that the government is considering linking Hepatitis C screening with the Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) and potentially making it mandatory before traveling abroad.
Kamal stressed the significance of timely screening in preventing the spread of Hepatitis C and reducing the disease burden. He appealed to citizens to undergo screening and take advantage of the free facilities offered under the government’s program.
