ISLAMABAD, April 4: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday approved Rs2.5 billion programme for prevention and control of hepatitis in the country. The approval of the programme, to be called the Prime Minister’s Programme for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis, was accorded by Mr Aziz while presiding over a high-level meeting held at the Prime Minister’s House.

In February, the health ministry had floated the proposal to initiate hepatitis programme, making it the second major health programme of Pakistan after the National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Care.

Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said that more than five million people in the country were suffering from the deadly disease but the government was committed to combat it.

The programme envisaged free treatment for chronic patients along with raising public awareness regarding preventive methods.

Mr Aziz directed the health ministry to make arrangements for free treatment of 5,000 patients annually.

The national strategy for prevention and control of hepatitis focuses on the supply of safe drinking water, injections, medical devices, waste management in addition to safe blood transfusion and creating public awareness.

The health ministry had sought Rs1 billion for injections, invasive medical devices, waste management and an equal amount for management support.

The rest of the amount was sought to be spent on Hepatitis B vaccination (Rs166 million), media campaigns (Rs125 million), blood safety (Rs20 million) and prevention and control of Hepatitis A and E infections (Rs87 million).

The meeting was also attended by Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan, Minister of State for Health Begum Shahnaz Sheikh and Health Secretary Syed Anwar Mehmood.