Pakistan mandates Hepatitis C screening for CNIC and travel

The Pakistani government has announced that Hepatitis C screening will become mandatory for all citizens aged 12 and above. Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal stated that the testing will eventually be required for obtaining a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) and for individuals traveling abroad.

As part of the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis C Elimination Programme, the initiative is being rolled out in phases, starting with Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan. Government employees, including those within the Ministry of National Health Services, are being prioritized; the minister noted that salaries would be withheld for employees who refuse the mandatory test.

To facilitate the program, 17 screening points have been established in Islamabad. The government plans to link screening records with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) using software developed with census data. With approximately 11 million people in Pakistan estimated to be Hepatitis C-positive, the government intends to provide free medication to eligible patients to combat the disease and prevent complications such as liver cancer.