Islamabad: Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has made hepatitis testing mandatory for all employees of the Ministry of Health, announcing that salaries of those who fail to undergo screening will be withheld.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Mustafa Kamal said hepatitis screening would be compulsory for Health Ministry employees, while other government institutions would also be approached to arrange testing for their staff.
The health minister expressed serious concern over the spread of hepatitis C across Pakistan, saying every individual above the age of 12 should undergo screening.
He said hepatitis screening would also be carried out in Islamabad and Gilgit Baltistan to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment of infected individuals.
Mustafa Kamal announced that screening had also been made mandatory for people returning to Pakistan after being deported.
He further said that all flights would be required to undergo the screening process for the next three months.
According to the minister, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics has provided gadgets for the initiative, while software previously used for the population census has been linked with NADRA records.
Mustafa Kamal said hepatitis C can be transmitted through blood and warned that around 11 million people in Pakistan are currently hepatitis C positive.
He urged citizens to take advantage of the free screening facility being provided and get themselves tested.
The federal health minister also said the required data was not being provided by Punjab, adding that he would personally meet the Punjab chief minister to discuss the matter.
