Summary President said Pakistan was among the countries most affected by hepatitis C and that eliminating the disease required collective commitment
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to eliminating hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030.
In separate messages issued on World Hepatitis Day, President Zardari said hepatitis was a preventable and treatable disease, but stressed that timely diagnosis and treatment were essential.
He said Pakistan was among the countries most affected by hepatitis C and that eliminating the disease required collective commitment and sustained action. He called for effective enforcement of laws against unsafe medical and commercial practices, saying public awareness and preventive measures were key to tackling the disease.
The president said free screening, diagnosis and treatment for hepatitis C were being provided under the Prime Minister's National Programme, adding that the government remained committed to achieving the national goal despite limited resources.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was renewing its commitment, alongside the international community, to eliminating hepatitis. He said the country had faced the serious public health challenge of hepatitis C for decades and ensuring equal access to quality screening, diagnosis and treatment remained a government priority.
The prime minister said the government launched the Prime Minister's National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C in 2025, under which millions of Pakistanis were being provided free screening, confirmatory testing and effective treatment.
He said strict measures had been taken to prevent the spread of hepatitis, including a ban on the manufacture, distribution and reuse of substandard syringes. He added that strict infection-control measures were being enforced at hospitals and healthcare facilities, with accountability for negligence.
Shehbaz urged citizens to undergo hepatitis C screening at the earliest and encourage their families, friends and colleagues to get tested. He stressed that timely diagnosis and treatment could save lives.
The prime minister also paid tribute to doctors, nurses, laboratory experts and frontline healthcare workers, saying that national unity, scientific progress, public cooperation and sustained efforts could enable Pakistan to achieve its national and global target of eliminating hepatitis C by 2030.
