Free Hepatitis C Screening and Treatment Now Available in GB and AJK

Free hepatitis C screening, diagnostic testing, and treatment services have been introduced in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) under the Prime Minister's National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C.

Key points

• Hepatitis C remains a significant public health concern, with an estimated 60 million individuals affected worldwide and around 11 million in Pakistan.
• HEC to Backing Free Hepatitis C Screening at Federal Universities.
• According to official sources, three screening centres have been set up in Gilgit-Baltistan and six in AJK to support residents access testing and treatment without charge.
• Residents seeking further information can contact the government's toll-free helpline at 1166.
• The expansion to Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK follows the introduction of the programme in Islamabad.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Health Services has pressed residents in both regions to visit their nearest designated centres and benefit from the programme, and has encouraged residents to spread awareness among their families and communities. HEC to Backing Free Hepatitis C Screening at Federal Universities.

Under the initiative, patients can receive free initial screening, PCR diagnostic tests valued at around Rs8, 000 and treatment worth between Rs34, 000 and Rs68, 000, with all services provided free of cost to eligible individuals.

Meanwhile, the virus can spread through contaminated blood, unsafe injections, and infected shaving equipment. If left untreated, the infection can cause serious liver damage and growth the risk of complications, including liver cancer. Pakistan Tops World in Hepatitis C Patients.

Notably, the health ministry has stressed that hepatitis C is curable and that early screening, timely diagnosis and completion of treatment are essential to prevent serious health complications and limit the spread of the infection.

In practice, the expansion to Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK follows the introduction of the programme in Islamabad. The administration aims to extend free screening, diagnosis and treatment services to other parts of the country as part of its efforts to eliminate hepatitis C nationwide. Stay Connected with ProPakistani. Obtain the latest news and stories wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover. Follow on Google News Join WhatsApp. See more ProPakistani stories in Google Search and Top Stories.

In short, free Hepatitis C Screening and Treatment Now Available in GB and AJK is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.