ISLAMABAD: The federal government has started a pilot programme in collaboration with the Agha Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) to eliminate hepatitis C.

According to a statement issued by the health ministry, hepatitis C is a major public health disease in Pakistan.

It is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Despite advancements in medical treatments that can effectively cure the disease, millions of Pakistanis remain unaware of their infection status due to limited awareness and access to screening and testing services. According to the ministry, Pakistan is now number one in the world with the highest prevalence of hepatitis as Egypt, previously number one, has eliminated hepatitis through concerted efforts.

The Prime Minister’s National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C Infection is an initiative led by the prime minister of Pakistan, assisted by Minister Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal, Coordinator to the PM on Health Dr Mukhtar Bharat, member of PM’s Task Force on Hepatitis-C Eliminate and Chairman Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) Professor Saeed Akhter, the statement read.

“The federal government, through this programme, has committed 34 billion rupees for the first phase, with reciprocal commitment from provincial governments as implementing partners with a total sum of 68 billion rupees,” it stated.

Dr Mukhtar Bharat has assured that he and his team at the Ministry of National Health Services along with the team from PKLI and others, will turn no stone unturned to achieve the goal.

“Through this initiative, millions of lives will be saved. Hepatitis C can be cured with only three months of treatment, given in the form of cheap and effective oral medications,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2025