Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has revealed that 10 million people in Pakistan are suffering from Hepatitis C, but 80 percent of patients are unaware of the disease, while a Rs67 billion program has been launched.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal announced free screening and treatment during the soft launch ceremony of the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis C Elimination Program and termed its formal launch a historic and revolutionary step for Pakistan’s healthcare sector.
He said that the Rs67 billion program has been launched after a decade of continuous efforts. Around 60 million Hepatitis patients exist worldwide, out of which 10 million are in Pakistan, while 80 percent of individuals remain unaware of their illness.
Mustafa Kamal stated that if Hepatitis C is not treated in time, it can lead to liver cancer, therefore precautionary measures, timely diagnosis, and public awareness are extremely important.
He said Pakistan’s healthcare system must be shifted from “sick care” to actual “health care,” where focus is placed on disease prevention.
According to the federal minister, a nationwide screening campaign will be conducted with the cooperation of NADRA to ensure access to as many citizens as possible, while in the initial phase, 12 screening counters have been established at federal hospitals in Islamabad.
He announced that the Hepatitis C screening test, which costs approximately Rs7,000, and the complete treatment lasting three to six months will be provided free of charge under the program.
He said that if Egypt can eliminate Hepatitis C, then why not Pakistan? He urged the public to undergo timely screening so that the disease can be prevented from spreading further.
Mustafa Kamal added that due to population growth, hospitals and doctors in the country are under severe pressure, where a doctor has to examine more than 350 patients daily instead of 30.
