Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal says mandatory hepatitis screening has been introduced for ministry employees as Pakistan steps up efforts to tackle Hepatitis C.
WEB DESK: Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has announced mandatory hepatitis screening for employees of the Ministry of Health, warning that those who refuse to undergo testing could have their salaries suspended.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Kamal said employees of the ministry would be required to undergo hepatitis testing as part of government efforts to control the spread of the disease in Pakistan.
He said the government would also approach employees of other public institutions to arrange hepatitis screening.
Screening urged for everyone above 12
The federal minister described the spread of Hepatitis C in Pakistan as a matter of serious concern and called for screening of everyone aged 12 and above.
He said hepatitis screening would also be conducted in Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad as part of the wider national campaign.
According to Kamal, the government is working to expand screening and identify people who may be infected but remain undiagnosed.
Deportees to undergo mandatory screening
The minister said people arriving in Pakistan after being deported would also be required to undergo screening.
He added that all flights would be included in the screening process for a period of three months.
Kamal said the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics had provided the necessary devices, while the census software had been linked with NADRA records to support the screening initiative.
Minister cites Hepatitis C burden
Kamal said Hepatitis C can be transmitted through blood and claimed that around 11 million people in Pakistan are currently Hepatitis C positive.
He urged people to take advantage of the free screening and treatment facilities being offered by the government.
The minister also expressed concern over the availability of provincial data, saying that the federal government had not received the required information from Punjab.
He said he planned to meet Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz personally to discuss the issue and improve coordination on hepatitis-related data.
Government pushes nationwide screening
The announcement comes as Pakistani authorities seek to expand the detection and treatment of Hepatitis C across the country.
The focus on screening is aimed at identifying infections at an early stage and connecting affected people with available treatment services.
The government has also been seeking greater coordination between federal and provincial institutions to improve disease surveillance and establish a clearer picture of the country’s hepatitis burden.
