PM Shehbaz Vows Nationwide Eradication of Hepatitis C

The first -minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the coordinated efforts of federal and provincial governments and all stakeholders to eradicate Pakistan hepatitis C. He reaffirmed his commitment to expand the first -minister’s Hepatitis C elimination program across the country.

Addressing a ceremony on Tuesday, marking the successful conclusion of the pilot project of the National Hepatitis C elimination program in Gilgit-Baltistan, the Prime Minister highlighted the meaning of this initiative in combating the generalized impact of the disease in the country.

He appreciated the notable support of the Aga Khan Development Network and the World Health Organization (WHO) in this regard. He stated that the Hepatitis Unit was initially established at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and was later expanded to other public hospitals, where patients receive 100% free treatment.

Expressing regret over the discontinuation of the program in 2018 when a new government took over, the Prime Minister said that he resumed the program immediately after assuming office. Now, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the program is actively running in Punjab.

The Prime Minister expressed optimism about the bright future of Gilgit-Baltistan and other parts of Pakistan. He asserted that with the government’s ongoing efforts, Hepatitis C would soon be completely eradicated from the country. He stressed that given the spread of this disease, now is the time to take effective measures to control it.

He also announced that the federal government is establishing Jinnah Medical Center in Islamabad, which will be a groundbreaking healthcare facility comparable to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States.

Earlier, the Prime Minister distributed shields to those who contributed to the Gilgit-Baltistan pilot project, including Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, Minister of State for Health Mukhtar Bharat, Chairman NADRA, WHO representatives in Pakistan, and others.

Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal highlighted that Hepatitis C is spreading rapidly in Pakistan, which is a serious concern. He stated that the success of the Hepatitis C program is an example of public-private partnerships and coordination between federal and provincial governments. The government is hopeful to eliminate the disease by 2029.

The Prime Minister’s Hepatitis C Elimination Program will not only save millions of lives but will also contribute to enhancing the country’s economic productivity.

Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal commended the Prime Minister’s vision for eliminating Hepatitis C from Pakistan and assured full cooperation in achieving the goal by 2030.

WHO representative in Pakistan, Dr. Lo Dapeng, reaffirmed the organization’s support for the complete eradication of this disease. He appreciated the leadership and immediate actions taken by the governments of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir and their health departments for the pilot project.

He also praised the screening of 14,000 individuals in two union councils as part of the pilot project and assured WHO’s continued technical and operational support.

Dr. Saeed Akhtar, a member of the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis C Elimination Program Task Force, informed that Rs. 68 billion have been allocated for this initiative, which will be completed in two phases.

Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar and other senior officials were also present at the occasion.