Islamabad: Pakistan has intensified its national public health response after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed urgent, countrywide screening for hepatitis and HIV/AIDS across all government hospitals, framing the move as a life-saving intervention to detect infections early and curb rising viral disease risks, May 6, 2026.
The directive comes amid renewed concern over Pakistan’s growing burden of blood-borne diseases, including hepatitis and HIV, and includes expanded testing systems, tighter medical safety protocols, and accelerated treatment programs aimed at preventing further transmission.
Pakistan hepatitis HIV screening expanded under new federal directive
Under the new orders, the prime minister instructed health authorities to ensure systematic screening of all patients for hepatitis and HIV at public health facilities nationwide. Officials were also directed to establish an integrated disease reporting system in coordination with provincial governments to improve early detection and monitoring.
The government also emphasized strict enforcement of auto-disable syringes to eliminate unsafe injection practices, which health experts have long identified as a major transmission route for hepatitis and HIV in Pakistan.
According to officials briefed during a high-level review, Pakistan has already established 98 anti-retroviral therapy centres for HIV treatment, with plans to expand to 164 nationwide within a year. Screening services for HIV have also been introduced at international airports for returning migrants, reflecting a broader push for early identification of infections.
The federal government is simultaneously preparing to launch a pilot phase of its National Hepatitis Control Programme in Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, signaling a phased national rollout of large-scale hepatitis elimination efforts.
Health authorities say the expanded screening drive builds on earlier hepatitis elimination strategies that aimed to decentralize testing and provide free treatment nationwide. Previous initiatives highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to scaling up hepatitis C screening and treatment access across provinces, including mass testing campaigns and awareness drives supported by global health partners.
In 2024, officials also announced a nationwide hepatitis C elimination program focusing on universal screening and treatment access, with long-term goals to significantly reduce infection rates and prevent liver disease complications across the country. Earlier reports on the initiative described plans for widespread population screening and free treatment access as part of a long-term public health strategy.
Rising infection concerns drive renewed urgency
The latest directive follows growing concern about infectious disease clusters and systemic healthcare risks. A recent parliamentary briefing highlighted tens of thousands of registered HIV cases in Pakistan, with officials attributing increases partly to expanded screening efforts that are uncovering previously undiagnosed infections.
At the same time, Pakistan has faced repeated public health alarms linked to unsafe medical practices, including syringe reuse incidents that have previously contributed to localized HIV outbreaks in rural regions. Earlier investigations into hepatitis C also warned of widespread infection risks tied to unsafe injections and inadequate sterilization practices in healthcare settings.
Health experts have repeatedly stressed that improving infection control in hospitals, expanding diagnostic access, and strengthening surveillance systems are essential to controlling both hepatitis and HIV transmission in the country.
Past national hepatitis campaigns emphasized prevention through safe medical practices, including sterilized equipment and expanded screening networks. A nationwide hepatitis elimination drive launched in previous years focused on early diagnosis and treatment access, aiming to reduce Pakistan’s high hepatitis C burden, which health officials have described as among the largest globally. Earlier coverage of the campaign highlighted the government’s commitment to free screening and treatment expansion.
Long-term public health strategy and implementation challenges
Officials say the current expansion of Pakistan hepatitis HIV screening reflects a broader shift toward integrated disease control, combining hepatitis elimination with HIV prevention and polio eradication efforts under a unified public health framework.
However, challenges remain significant, including gaps in rural healthcare infrastructure, uneven diagnostic capacity across provinces, and continued reliance on unsafe medical practices in some areas. Health authorities have acknowledged that sustained political commitment and provincial coordination will be critical to ensuring effective implementation.
Global health organizations have previously supported Pakistan’s hepatitis elimination efforts, encouraging expanded testing and preventive measures. In earlier assessments, international health partners praised Pakistan’s direction toward nationwide screening while emphasizing the need for consistent follow-through and stronger enforcement of infection control standards.
As Pakistan scales up its hepatitis and HIV response, officials say the success of the initiative will depend on rapid execution, improved healthcare oversight, and sustained public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing transmission risks and encouraging early testing.
Conclusion
The renewed Pakistan hepatitis HIV screening drive marks one of the country’s most expansive public health interventions in recent years, combining mass testing, treatment expansion, and stricter medical safety enforcement in response to growing infection concerns. Authorities say the initiative is designed to detect diseases earlier, prevent avoidable transmission, and move closer to long-term elimination goals for hepatitis and HIV nationwide.
