ISLAMABAD, Oct 22 (APP):The federal government has urged residents of Islamabad to benefit from free hepatitis C testing and treatment under the Prime Minister’s National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C, aimed at reducing the disease burden and preventing its spread.
An official of the Prime Minister’s National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C said the campaign had been launched to facilitate early diagnosis and ensure access to treatment for patients across the country.
Under the initiative, diagnostic testing worth Rs8,000 is being provided free of charge, while the government will bear treatment costs ranging from Rs34,000 to Rs68,000 per patient, he said.
He urged citizens who had not yet been screened for hepatitis C to undergo testing without delay, emphasizing that early diagnosis and timely treatment were essential to preventing complications and improving health outcomes.
The official said the programme aimed to facilitate access to diagnosis and treatment, particularly for people who might otherwise be unable to afford healthcare expenses.
He encouraged residents to motivate their family members and others in their communities to undergo screening and benefit from the free services.
The campaign will subsequently be expanded to Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan before being extended across the country, he added.
The official said the initiative reflected the government’s broader commitment to eliminating hepatitis C, strengthening preventive healthcare and ensuring affordable treatment for the population.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
