ISLAMABAD: The government has announced the launch of a hepatitis screening campaign for all government employees in Islamabad, with the screening process scheduled to start on August 18.
Sources revealed that personnel from various ministries and government institutions will undergo testing for hepatitis. The initiative will be inaugurated by Federal Minister Mustafa Kamal at the Ministry of Health, who will formally kick off the hepatitis C screening drive.
Employees found to be positive for hepatitis C will be offered free PCR testing, and the government will also provide free medication to those diagnosed with the virus.
A budget of Rs67 billion has been allocated for the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis Program, with Rs1 billion dedicated to the current fiscal year. Additionally, 50,000 testing kits have been procured for this initiative. Currently, hepatitis C samples are being processed at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The primary goal of this screening program is to detect hepatitis infections among government staff and ensure that those who test positive receive appropriate testing and treatment to prevent further health complications.
