PM orders nationwide screening drive in public hospitals to detect hepatitis, HIV early

• Premier Shehbaz reiterates govt's resolve to provide best possible healthcare to citizens and eliminate hepatitis, HIV

• Orders integrated disease reporting system ordered with provinces for faster response and control

• Directs accelerated Hepatitis Control Programme with focus on testing, treatment and prevention

• Urges nationwide ban on reused syringes and making AD syringes mandatory across Pakistan

• Polio eradication push intensified as virus presence shows gradual decline, says briefing

• HIV treatment centres to rise to 164; PM reviews major expansion of health network

 

 ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed authorities to ensure comprehensive screening of all patients in public hospitals for hepatitis and HIV, reaffirming the government’s resolve to eliminate the diseases and provide the best possible healthcare services to citizens.

Chairing a review meeting on matters related to the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, the prime minister said the government would go to every length, overcome every obstacle and make every necessary sacrifice to save even a single precious life.

He reiterated that the provision of quality healthcare to Pakistani citizens remained one of the government’s top priorities, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting regarding the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination in Islamabad on 5 May 2026. pic.twitter.com/TXPJtRWgHV

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) May 5, 2026

The prime minister directed the health ministry to develop, in coordination with provincial governments, an integrated disease surveillance and reporting system for timely identification of hepatitis, AIDS and other communicable diseases.

“Only through timely diagnosis and reporting can these diseases be completely eradicated,” he observed.

PM Shehbaz further instructed the ministry to accelerate the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis Control Programme in collaboration with provincial authorities, with a special focus on screening, testing and treatment.

اسلام آباد: 5 مئی 2026۔

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف نے وزارت برائے امورِ قومی صحت کے حوالے سے جائزہ اجلاس کی صدارت کی.

اجلاس سے گفتگو کرتے ہوئے وزیرِ اعظم نے کہا کہ شہریوں کی صحت کے لیے بہترین خدمات فراہم کرنا حکومت کی اولین ترجیحات میں شامل ہے. کسی بھی ایک قیمتی جان کے تحفظ کے… pic.twitter.com/yBjfpvcIUG

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) May 5, 2026

To curb the spread of viral infections, the prime minister ordered the nationwide use of auto-disable (AD) syringes and directed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and other relevant bodies to enforce a complete ban on the reuse of syringes.

The prime minister also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to completely eradicate Polio from Pakistan.

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی زیرِ صدارت وزارتِ قومی صحت کے امور کے حوالے سے جائزہ اجلاس

اجلاس میں وزیراعظم کو پولیو، ہیپاٹائیٹس اور ایڈز کے خاتمے کے لیے اقدامات کے حوالے سے بریفنگ میں بتایا گیا کہ قومی پروگرام برائے انسدادِ ہیپاٹائیٹس سی کا پائلٹ جلد اسلام آباد، آزاد کشمیر اور… pic.twitter.com/bMhW8NzQ1R

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) May 5, 2026

During the meeting, the premier was briefed on ongoing national efforts to eliminate polio, hepatitis and AIDS.

Officials informed the meeting that 98 anti-retroviral therapy centres had been established in major hospitals across the country for the treatment of AIDS, with plans to expand the number to 164 within one year.

The meeting was further told that AIDS screening facilities had been introduced at all international airports for illegal immigrants returning to the country as part of disease surveillance measures.

Officials also briefed the prime minister that the pilot phase of the Prime Minister’s National Programme for Hepatitis C elimination would soon be launched in Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

On polio eradication efforts, the meeting was informed that recent environmental samples showed a gradual decline in the presence of the poliovirus, which officials described as an encouraging development.

It was further shared that coverage during the latest anti-polio campaign reached 98 per cent.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal, Minister of State for Health Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath and Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Ayesha Raza Farooq, along with senior officials of relevant institutions.

The development comes in the backdrop of last month’s disclosure by Health Minister Mustafa Kamal that Pakistan currently has 84,000 registered HIV/AIDS cases, of which 23,000 registered patients remain untraceable.

The minister had said that while 61,000 patients were receiving treatment, the remaining registered patients could not be traced because they were not seeking treatment.

“If these missing people are not taking medicine from here, they are not getting it from anywhere,” Kamal had warned, cautioning that untreated patients could contribute to further transmission of the disease.

PM grieves martyrdom of Maulana Idrees

In a related development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the attack in Charsadda that led to the martyrdom of former Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam MPA and renowned cleric Maulana Muhammad Idrees Tarangzai.

وزیر اعظم محمد شہباز شریف کا چارسدہ میں جے یو آئی کے سابق ایم پی اے اور ممتاز عالم دین مولانا محمد ادریس ترنگزئی پر حملہ اور انکی شہادت پر گہرے دکھ اور رنج کا اظہار۔

وزیر اعظم کا لواحقین سے دلی ہمدردی اور تعزیت کا اظہار۔

"اللہ تعالیٰ شہید کے درجات بلند فرمائے اور اہلِ خانہ کو… pic.twitter.com/tQiJhW70gk

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) May 5, 2026

The prime minister extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the elevation of the deceased’s ranks in Jannah, as well as patience and strength for the family in this difficult time.

He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured police personnel.