Pakistan and WHO launch national campaign to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030

The Ministry of National Health Services, in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO), on Wednesday launched the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis C Elimination Program 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 campaign.

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

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

He said the Rs 67 billion initiative was among the largest public health programs undertaken in the country and marked the culmination of nearly a decade of efforts to combat hepatitis C.

Highlighting the increasing burden of disease, the minister said nearly 10 million Pakistanis were affected by hepatitis C out of around 50 million estimated patients worldwide.

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

It is estimated that around 110,000 people are infected with hepatitis C each year in Pakistan, mainly 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, highlighting 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 a nationwide assessment would be carried out with the support of the National Registration and Database Authority (Nadra) to ensure transparency and maximum reach.

He said 12 hepatitis C screening counters had been set up in federal hospitals in Islamabad as part of the initial phase.

Kamal urged citizens to actively participate in the screening campaign and said public cooperation was vital for the success of the programme.

He said the hepatitis C screening test, which normally costs around Rs 7,000, along with a complete treatment of three to six months, would be provided free of charge 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?” said.

The minister highlighted the immense burden that rapid population growth places on the health system, noting that doctors often have to examine more than 350 patients a day instead of the expected 30.

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

Kamal described public service as a humanitarian and spiritual responsibility and said serving humanity was tantamount 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 WHO and under the leadership of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, the program 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 program in Islamabad is a paradigm shift. Health is a national security issue and an economic issue,” Kamal said.

“With the technical support of the World Health Organization, we can and must use science-based best 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 program could generate savings of Rs 1.3 billion in treatment costs and more than Rs 2 billion in hospitalization costs over the next five years.

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

Pilot phases conducted in specific provinces have provided critical information on operational feasibility, challenges and best practices for nationwide expansion.

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

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

Pakistan and the United States reaffirm health cooperation

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

Kamal met with US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs 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 American delegation and said Pakistan and the United States shared a long-standing partnership that continued to expand across multiple sectors, including public health.

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

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

He briefed the delegation on the newly launched Prime Minister’s Program for Hepatitis C Elimination, calling it an important step in addressing one of Pakistan’s most serious public health challenges.

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