Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal announced on Tuesday that all employees within the health department must undergo hepatitis C testing, warning that those who fail to comply will have their salaries withheld from the following month. This directive was issued during the inauguration of a hepatitis C screening initiative, which is part of the Prime Minister’s Programme for Disease Prevention.
In a significant development, Kamal revealed plans to expand hepatitis C screening nationwide, urging every eligible Pakistani to participate in the testing to combat this potentially fatal illness. He also mentioned that screening would soon become compulsory for employees across all federal ministries, with official letters being dispatched to enforce this policy.
Highlighting the seriousness of the campaign, Kamal stated, “Employees in the health department who do not undergo hepatitis C tests will have their salaries stopped.” Currently, 17 screening centers have been established in Islamabad, and private hospitals are being equipped with screening kits and digital devices to facilitate the process. The programme aims to extend its reach throughout the country.
Prioritizing individuals over the age of 12, the minister emphasized that every Pakistani should be screened. He noted that approximately 11 million people in Pakistan are living with hepatitis C, a disease often undetected until it causes severe complications. Kamal warned that untreated hepatitis C can progress to liver cancer, underscoring the critical need for early diagnosis and treatment.
Under the Prime Minister’s initiative, medicines valued at around Rs68,000 will be provided free to patients diagnosed with hepatitis C. Kamal encouraged the public to utilize these free screening and treatment services. The screening efforts will also cover regions such as Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad.
Additionally, the minister stated that individuals deported or returning to Pakistan will be required to undergo screening, and all flights will be subject to hepatitis C screening for a period of three months. The government is leveraging technology from the Bureau of Statistics and census software, integrating the system with NADRA records to enhance identification and tracking.
Kamal revealed that the government is exploring the possibility of linking hepatitis C screening with the Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) system and may also mandate testing before international travel. He explained that hepatitis C is mainly transmitted through infected blood and stressed that timely screening is vital to prevent its spread and reduce the overall disease burden.
Concluding his remarks, the minister appealed to citizens to participate in the screening programme and take full advantage of the free services being offered under the government’s comprehensive hepatitis C prevention campaign.
