ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Health, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and local and international health experts, has announced a renewed national campaign to eliminate hepatitis C. The campaign aims to prevent 850,000 deaths and around 1.1 million new infections by 2050 under the Prime Minister’s National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C.
During an event marking World Hepatitis Day, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal outlined the campaign’s goals and strategies. WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr. Dapeng Luo joined senior officials from the health sector in highlighting the urgency of prevention.
The plan emphasizes a comprehensive strategy that includes mass screening, safe medical practices, harm reduction among drug users, and scaled-up treatment. By 2027, the programme seeks to screen approximately 82.5 million individuals aged 12 and above and treat up to 5 million patients.
Detailed projections indicate that by 2030, the initiative could prevent 150,000 deaths and 210,000 new infections, as well as avert 90,000 cases of liver cancer and 71,000 cases of cirrhosis. Over the next five years, Pakistan is expected to save around PKR 3.3 billion in reduced treatment and hospitalization costs.
It was noted that Pakistan currently carries the highest hepatitis C burden anywhere in the world, with close to 10 million cases reported. Each year, about 110,000 people become newly infected—62 percent due to unsafe medical injections or blood transfusions, and 38 percent via injection drug use.
WHO reaffirmed its full support for Pakistan’s national programme and called on policymakers to integrate hepatitis prevention and treatment into routine health services, including vaccination, safe injection protocols, testing, and treatment.
