ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has mandated the countrywide implementation of auto-disable (AD) syringes to halt the transmission of viral and infectious diseases, including hepatitis, AIDS, and polio. This directive forms part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance public health safety.
During a health sector reform review meeting, the prime minister emphasized that delivering high-quality healthcare services remains a foremost government priority. He affirmed the administration’s commitment to overcoming all obstacles and making every possible sacrifice to safeguard even a single life.
Sharif instructed relevant authorities to enforce mandatory screening for infectious diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS across all public hospitals. He also called for the creation of an integrated disease reporting system in collaboration with provincial governments to improve monitoring and response.
In a significant development, the prime minister urged the health ministry to expedite the expansion of the “Prime Minister Hepatitis Control Programme” in partnership with provincial administrations. This initiative aims to enhance screening, testing, and treatment services nationwide.
He further stressed the strict enforcement of AD syringe usage to prevent syringe reuse, directing the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and other health bodies to eradicate unsafe medical practices.
Officials informed the meeting that 98 antiretroviral therapy centers have been established in major hospitals to provide treatment for AIDS patients, with plans to increase this number to 164 within the next year. Additionally, HIV screening facilities have been introduced at international airports to monitor returning undocumented migrants.
Moreover, a pilot hepatitis C control program is set to launch soon in Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Environmental testing has indicated a gradual reduction in poliovirus presence, while the most recent vaccination campaign achieved an impressive 98 percent coverage.
The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, and other senior officials, underscoring the government’s unified approach to tackling infectious diseases.
