ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for coordinated efforts by federal and provincial governments and all stakeholders to eradicate Hepatitis C from Pakistan.

Speaking at a recognition ceremony here, marking the successful completion of the pilot project of the PM’s National Hepatitis C Elimination Programme in Gilgit Baltistan, the prime minister emphasized the importance of the initiative in addressing the widespread impact of the disease in the country.

Acknowledging the significant support from the Aga Khan Development Network and the World Health Organization (WHO) in this initiative, he said that the hepatitis unit was initially established at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) and was later expanded to provide 100% free treatment facilities.

The prime minister expressed regret that when the new government took office in 2018, the program was discontinued.

However, he said that shortly after assuming the office of Prime Minister, he resumed the program, which was now operational in Punjab under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

“We see a bright future of Gilgit Baltistan and subsequently other parts of Pakistan,” he said expressing the confidence that with the efforts of the incumbent government, Hepatitis C will be completely erased from the country very soon.

“This aggressive disease is spreading. This is high time to effectively control this disease,” he said.

The prime minister told the gathering the federal government was in the process of establishing Jinnah Medical Centre in Islamabad which would prove to John Hopkins Hospital of Pakistan in public healthcare.

Minister for National Health Syed Mustafa Kamal, lauding the prime minister’s vision of eliminating Hepatitis C from the country, assured him of his full support to successfully eliminate the disease from the country by 2030.

Highlighting the significance of preventive healthcare, he said the treatment of 10 million cases was difficult.