Pakistan, WHO launch national drive to eliminate Hepatitis C by 2030

The Ministry of National Health Services, in coordination with the World Health Organisation (WHO), on Wednesday launched the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis C Elimination Programme aimed at eliminating the disease by 2030.

Under the initiative, Pakistan has set a target of reaching 1.6 million people in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) over the next six months as part of a broader nationwide elimination drive.

The programme, launched at a soft-launch ceremony in Islamabad, is part of a phased national rollout that will eventually extend to more than 164m people across the country, focusing on large-scale screening, early diagnosis and free treatment to curb the spread of Hepatitis C.

Addressing the ceremony, Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal termed the programme a “historic and revolutionary step” towards building a healthier Pakistan.

He said the Rs67 billion initiative was among the largest public health programmes undertaken in the country and marked the culmination of nearly a decade of efforts to combat Hepatitis C.

Highlighting the growing disease burden, the minister said nearly 10m Pakistanis were affected by Hepatitis C out of around 50m estimated patients worldwide.

“The most alarming thing is only one in three affected people knows that they are living with this disease globally,” he said.

It is estimated that around 110,000 people are infected with Hepatitis C in Pakistan every year, primarily due to unsafe medical injections, including blood transfusions, and injection drug use.

“Hepatitis C is a dangerous disease that can ultimately lead to liver cancer if left untreated,” Kamal said, stressing that the country’s healthcare system must shift from a sick-care approach to a preventive healthcare model focused on early diagnosis and treatment.

The minister announced that nationwide screening would be conducted with the support of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to ensure transparency and maximum outreach.

He said 12 Hepatitis C screening counters had been established at federal hospitals in Islamabad as part of the initial phase.

Kamal urged citizens to actively participate in the screening campaign, saying public cooperation was vital for the programme’s success.

He said the Hepatitis C screening test, which usually costs around Rs7,000, along with a complete three-to-six-month treatment course, would be provided free of cost under the initiative.

Referring to Egypt’s successful elimination campaign, the minister said Pakistan could also achieve similar results through collective efforts. “If Egypt can eliminate Hepatitis C, why can’t Pakistan?” he said.

The minister pointed to the immense burden on the healthcare system caused by rapid population growth, noting that doctors often had to examine more than 350 patients daily instead of the expected 30.

He directed hospital administrations and healthcare workers to ensure full cooperation and respectful treatment for citizens visiting screening centres.

Kamal described public service as a humanitarian and spiritual responsibility, saying serving humanity was equivalent to an act of worship.

The ceremony reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating Hepatitis C and strengthening preventive healthcare across the country.

With technical support from the WHO and under the leadership of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, the programme aims to prevent, detect and provide life-saving treatment to those who test positive for Hepatitis C.

“Elimination of hepatitis C in Pakistan is not optional. We must do it. Launching this programme in Islamabad is a paradigm shift. Health is a national security issue, and an economic issue,” Kamal said.

“With the technical support from the World Health Organisation, we can and we must use the best science-based practices to eliminate this disease and protect our people and our families from this deadly disease, which is curable and preventable if we all follow good blood and injection safety measures. We know that prevention is better than cure.”

According to estimates shared at the ceremony, the programme could generate savings of Rs1.3b in treatment costs and more than Rs2b in hospitalisation costs over the next five years.

By 2030, it is estimated that the national return on investment would be $8 for every $1 invested.

The pilot phases conducted in specific provinces have provided critical insights into operational feasibility, challenges and best practices for nationwide expansion.

“The Prime Minister’s Programme is a major step towards achieving the 2030 global goal of eliminating hepatitis C as a public health threat. The programme could also avert 850,000 deaths and 1.1m new infections by 2050,” WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Luo Dapeng said.

“WHO will stand with Pakistan and its people to implement this initiative following medical science and adapting to the Pakistani context the best practices and lessons learned from around the world,” he added.

Pakistan, US reaffirm health cooperation

Separately, Pakistan and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in the health sector, with a focus on improving public health systems, disease prevention and healthcare delivery.

Kamal met US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S Paul Kapur, accompanied by US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A Baker, to discuss bilateral collaboration and areas of mutual interest.

During the meeting, the minister welcomed the US delegation and said Pakistan and the US shared a long-standing partnership that continued to expand across multiple sectors, including public health.

He briefed the delegation on ongoing health sector reforms and priority initiatives aimed at improving healthcare services across the country, emphasising that preventive healthcare remained a key government focus.

Kamal also highlighted lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing the importance of prevention and early intervention.

He informed the delegation about the recently launched Prime Minister’s Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C, terming it a major step towards addressing one of Pakistan’s most serious public health challenges.

Both sides agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in health-related initiatives and advancing shared objectives in the sector.