Pakistan Launches Rs67 Billion Hepatitis-C Elimination Programme
Pakistan has launched what officials describe as its largest ever public health initiative, a Rs67 billion programme aimed at eliminating Hepatitis-C from the country. The scale of the intervention reflects the severity of Pakistan's Hepatitis-C burden, which is among the highest in the world, affecting millions of citizens and placing sustained pressure on the healthcare system.
The programme encompasses mass screening campaigns, subsidised and free treatment access, and strengthened diagnostic infrastructure across the country's public health network. Authorities aim to dramatically reduce the prevalence of the disease through a combination of early detection and direct-acting antiviral treatment, which has proven highly effective globally when deployed at scale.
Health officials have underlined that Hepatitis-C elimination is achievable with sustained political commitment and adequate resourcing, citing successful national programmes in Egypt and Georgia as models. Pakistan's programme will be implemented in phases, with priority given to high-burden provinces and districts where the disease prevalence is most acute.
The Rs67 billion commitment signals a significant elevation in the government's public health investment and carries implications for pharmaceutical procurement, healthcare workforce deployment, and provincial health coordination. International health partners including the World Health Organisation are expected to provide technical support to the initiative.
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