Hepatitis Testing Made Mandatory for Ministry of Health Employees

ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has made hepatitis testing mandatory for employees of the Ministry of Health.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Kamal said salaries of ministry employees who refuse to undergo the test would be withheld. He added that the government would also contact other institutions to arrange hepatitis screening for their employees.
The minister said the spread of hepatitis C in Pakistan was a matter of serious concern and called for all people aged over 12 to undergo screening. He added that hepatitis screening would also be conducted in Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad.
Kamal said mandatory screening had also been introduced for people arriving in Pakistan after being deported. He added that all flights would undergo screening for a period of three months.
According to the minister, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics has provided the necessary gadgets, while the census software has been linked with NADRA records to support the screening process.
Kamal said hepatitis C can be transmitted through blood and claimed that around 11 million people in Pakistan are currently hepatitis C positive. He urged people to take advantage of free screening facilities.
The minister also said Punjab had not provided the required data and that he would personally meet the Punjab chief minister to discuss the issue.