ISLAMABAD: The government announced that hepatitis C screening will soon be a compulsory requirement for obtaining a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) and for international travel, according to Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal.
During the launch of a mandatory hepatitis C screening program for government employees in Islamabad, under the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis C Elimination Initiative, Kamal explained that the screening process will be rolled out in multiple phases, starting with the federal capital.
He emphasized that hepatitis C testing will be mandatory for all Pakistanis aged 12 and older. “Today, we have mandated hepatitis C screening for staff within the Ministry of National Health Services, and we are in the process of extending this requirement to other government departments,” he stated.
Kamal warned that employees who do not comply with the testing requirement may face salary deductions. He also revealed that the screening records will be integrated with NADRA’s database to streamline verification processes.
Furthermore, the government intends to enforce hepatitis C testing as a prerequisite for acquiring a CNIC and for overseas travel. These steps are part of a broader strategy to expand hepatitis C screening across the country and work towards eradicating the disease as a major public health concern.
