President, PM reaffirm commitment to end hepatitis
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to eliminating hepatitis, saying the country will continue its efforts to tackle the disease despite limited resources.
In their messages on World Hepatitis Day, both leaders stressed the need for sustained action, public awareness and collective efforts to control the spread of hepatitis and protect people from its serious health consequences.
President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan remains among the countries most affected by hepatitis C, making it essential for the government, healthcare institutions and the public to work together to address the challenge. He emphasized that greater awareness, preventive measures and timely diagnosis can play a key role in reducing the burden of the disease.
The president called for a strong and coordinated national response to hepatitis and said Pakistan must maintain its efforts to achieve its targets. He also highlighted the importance of preventing hepatitis C from becoming a major public health threat and reaffirmed the goal of controlling the disease by 2030.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also reiterated the government’s commitment to eliminating hepatitis from the country. He said the government launched a national programme for the elimination of hepatitis C in 2025, under which millions of citizens are receiving free screening and treatment.
The prime minister said the government will continue expanding efforts to identify patients at an early stage and provide them with access to necessary medical care. He stressed that the federal and provincial governments, along with the private sector, must join hands to achieve the national objective.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed confidence that through coordinated efforts, improved healthcare services, public awareness and wider access to screening and treatment, Pakistan can achieve its target of eliminating hepatitis C by 2030.
