Hepatitis management and screening in Pakistan

Clinical research in Lahore has documented high frequencies of hepatitis B and C coinfection among patients with chronic kidney disease, noting that repeated vascular access procedures like hemodialysis increase vulnerability to blood-borne viral infections.

In response to broader public health challenges, the Pakistani government has announced a mandate for hepatitis C screening for all citizens aged 12 and older. Under the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis C Elimination Programme, testing will eventually be required for obtaining a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) and for international travel. The initiative is being rolled out in phases, beginning in Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan, with plans to link screening records to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has indicated that government employees, including those within the Ministry of National Health Services, are being prioritized for the program. The minister noted that salaries would be withheld for employees who refuse the mandatory test. To facilitate the rollout, 17 screening points have been established in Islamabad. The government intends to use software developed with census data to link records with NADRA. With an estimated 11 million hepatitis C-positive individuals in Pakistan, the government aims to provide free medication to eligible patients to combat the disease and prevent complications such as liver cancer.