The government has announced a hepatitis C screening campaign for government employees working in the federal capital, with the initiative set to begin on August 18. Employees of all federal ministries and government institutions will be screened as part of the campaign, which aims to identify undiagnosed cases and ensure timely medical treatment for those affected.
According to media reports, government employees working in Islamabad will be provided with free hepatitis C screening facilities. The initiative aims to identify people who are infected with the virus but are unaware of their condition. Employees who test positive will undergo further medical evaluation and receive appropriate treatment.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal will formally launch the hepatitis C screening campaign at the Ministry of Health. During the first phase, government employees will be tested, while those who receive positive results will be referred for further medical assessment and treatment. Government employees who test positive during the initial hepatitis C screening will be provided with free PCR tests to confirm the infection.
The government has also decided to provide free medicines to employees diagnosed with hepatitis C, helping reduce the financial burden of treatment. A total of 50,000 testing kits have been purchased under the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis Programme. Testing of hepatitis C samples is also underway at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The government has allocated Rs67 billion for the overall Prime Minister’s Hepatitis Programme, while Rs1 billion has been allocated to the programme for the current fiscal year.