Pakistan Hepatitis C Screening: 160M Target in Major Drive

Pakistan Hepatitis C screening is being expanded under a major government programme aimed at testing people aged 12 and above and providing free diagnosis and treatment to those infected.

The federal government is stepping up efforts to tackle hepatitis C as Pakistan faces one of the world’s highest burdens of the disease.

According to the government, an estimated 11 million people in Pakistan may be living with hepatitis C. The true scale of the problem is expected to become clearer as large-scale screening progresses.

Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said in July that the Prime Minister’s National Hepatitis C Elimination Programme aims to screen more than 164 million people as it expands across the country.

Pakistan Hepatitis C Screening to Cover People Aged 12 and Above

Under the programme, people aged 12 and above are being targeted for hepatitis C screening.

The initiative follows a three-step approach: initial screening, confirmatory testing for people who screen positive, and treatment for confirmed patients.

The government says screening, diagnostic testing and treatment will be provided free of cost under the programme.

The initiative is being implemented directly by the federal government in Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, while coordination with provincial governments is underway to expand coverage nationwide.

Screening Made Mandatory for Federal Health Ministry Staff

The government has also started mandatory hepatitis C screening for employees of the Federal Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.

The campaign for ministry employees was formally launched on August 18, 2026, with Health Minister Mustafa Kamal undergoing screening himself.

According to the Press Information Department, letters are also being issued to attached departments, institutions and other federal ministries to encourage screening of their employees.

Screening information is being recorded digitally, with the government also using digital infrastructure associated with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Officials say screening records will be linked with NADRA data so that individuals' records can remain accessible in the future.

Free Treatment for Hepatitis C Patients

People who test positive will be able to receive treatment without paying for it under the government programme.

People who test positive will be able to receive treatment without paying for it under the government programme.

Hepatitis C can remain undetected for years because many infected people don't initially experience obvious symptoms. If left untreated, however, the infection can cause serious liver damage and increase the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The government says modern antiviral treatment can cure the vast majority of hepatitis C patients when the infection is identified and treated appropriately.

Screening Facilities Being Expanded

The government has already established screening facilities in Islamabad and is working to broaden access.

When the mandatory screening initiative for government employees was launched in August, the health minister said 17 centres had been established in Islamabad. Private hospitals are also expected to participate, with the government providing testing kits and related equipment.

The wider programme is being rolled out in phases as authorities seek to identify people carrying the virus before serious complications develop.

Pakistan launched the Prime Minister’s National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C Infection in 2025, with the broader goal of providing millions of people with access to free screening, confirmatory testing and treatment. Related Story: YES Program Pakistan 2027: Official Update, Fully Funded