Free Hepatitis C Screening and Treatment Launched in Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK

Residents of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir can now access free hepatitis C screening, diagnostic testing and treatment under the Prime Minister's National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C, according to official sources. Three screening centres have been established in Gilgit-Baltistan and six in AJK, allowing people in both regions to receive testing and care at no cost.

The Ministry of National Health Services has urged people across both regions to visit their nearest designated centre and take advantage of the programme. It also asked residents to raise awareness among their families and communities so that more people come forward for testing.

Under the initiative, patients receive free initial screening, PCR diagnostic tests that would normally cost around Rs8,000, and treatment valued at between Rs34,000 and Rs68,000. All of these services are provided free of charge to eligible individuals.

Hepatitis C is a major public health concern, with an estimated 60 million people infected worldwide and roughly 11 million in Pakistan. The virus spreads through contaminated blood, unsafe injections and infected shaving equipment, and if left untreated it can cause severe liver damage and raise the risk of complications such as liver cancer.

The health ministry stressed that hepatitis C is curable and that early screening, timely diagnosis and completing the full course of treatment are essential to prevent serious health problems and curb the spread of the infection. Residents seeking more information can call the government's toll-free helpline at 1166.

The expansion into Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK follows the launch of the programme in Islamabad. The government plans to extend free screening, diagnosis and treatment to other parts of the country as part of its broader effort to eliminate hepatitis C nationwide.