GILGIT: Coordinator to Prime Minister on Health Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Barth announced on Saturday that the government has launched an initiative in two districts of Gilgit-Baltistan to combat the spread of Hepatitis C.
The initiative — as part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Hepatitis C Elimination Programme — has been started in Diamer and Shigar in collaboration with Agha Khan Development Network, he said.
“After learning from this pilot, the main programme will be launched during the current year in all districts of Islamabad, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir and all other provinces.”
Dr Barth emphasized that Hepatitis C is a major public health issue in Pakistan, being one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis (caross), 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.”
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The PM’s coordinator mentioned that Pakistan has now been ranked as the country with the highest prevalence of Hepatitis C globally, a distinction previously held by Egypt, which has successfully eliminated the disease through a well-organized, government-led effort.
“As the prevalence of Hepatitis C continues to rise in Pakistan, early detection through widespread nationwide screening and testing, followed by treatment of infected patients, is essential for eliminating the disease from the country.”
The Prime Minister’s National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C is led by the PM, assisted by Minister of Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Health Coordinator Dr Mukhtar Barth, and Prof Saeed Akhter, Chairman of the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI).
Dr Barth explained that the programme aims to address this challenge by offering free screening, testing, and treatment for eligible individuals. “This programme also focuses on educating communities, healthcare workers, and the public about disease prevention, dispelling misconceptions, and providing information on where and how to effectively treat affected patients.”
He mentioned that the federal government has committed Rs34 billion for the first phase of the programme, with an equal commitment from provincial governments, bringing the total investment to Rs68 billion.
He was hopeful that the initiative can help saving millions of lives as Hepatitis C can be cured with just three months of treatment using inexpensive and effective oral medications.
“The challenge lies in implementing a large-scale nationwide screening programme to identify Hepatitis C patients who show no symptoms. These are the patients who, if treated promptly, will avoid developing liver failure or liver cancer,” he added.
Dr. Barth urged the general public to come forward and help the government take care of their health, as free PCR testing and treatment are available through this initiative.
“It is important for the success of this national cause that all the civil society, professional groups, academia and media agencies stand behind the programme and support this national mission by disseminating information, providing equipment to healthcare providers, and training outreach teams to educate communities on prevention and treatment,” he added.