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Pakistan Considers Hepatitis C Test Before Foreign Travel
Pakistan is considering a Hepatitis C test before foreign travel as part of a wider national effort to expand screening for the viral infection.
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal announced on August 18, 2026, that the government is exploring whether Hepatitis C screening could become mandatory for people traveling internationally. The proposal comes as Pakistan expands the Prime Minister’s national Hepatitis C prevention and elimination program.
Importantly, the government has not announced that every international traveler must currently undergo a Hepatitis C test. The policy is being considered, so travelers should not treat the proposal as an immediate new airport requirement.
The development is nevertheless significant because it could eventually connect health screening with international travel, national identification records and broader disease-control measures.
Pakistan and the World Health Organization launched the national Hepatitis C program in Islamabad in May 2026, with plans to expand screening nationwide. The program initially targeted 1.6 million people in Islamabad Capital Territory and is intended to reach more than 164 million people across Pakistan in later phases.
Why Pakistan Is Expanding Hepatitis C Screening
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that primarily affects the liver. Many people can have the infection without noticeable symptoms for years, which makes screening particularly important.
According to the World Health Organization, Hepatitis C is mainly transmitted through infected blood. Common transmission routes include unsafe injections and medical procedures, unscreened blood transfusions and sharing contaminated needles or syringes.
The Pakistani government says millions of people in the country are affected by Hepatitis C. Federal officials have warned that untreated infection can eventually cause serious liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer.
The expansion of screening is therefore aimed at finding infections earlier, connecting patients with treatment and reducing future transmission.
WHO’s 2026 guidance also emphasizes expanding access to testing, diagnosis and treatment through simplified and decentralized healthcare services.
For more updates on Pakistan and international developments, readers can also visit Digismarties.
Could the Test Become Mandatory for International Travelers?
The most important point for travelers is that a Hepatitis C test before foreign travel is currently being considered, rather than confirmed as a universal requirement.
Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said authorities were considering making screening mandatory before international travel. If such a policy is formally approved, the government would still need to establish practical details.
These could include:
- Who would need to take the test
- How far in advance travelers would need screening
- Which laboratories or hospitals would be authorized
- Whether a digital certificate would be required
- How test results would be verified at airports
- Whether children would be included
- Whether the rule would apply to all destinations or specific travel categories
- How long a negative test result would remain valid
Until official rules are published, travelers should continue following the existing requirements of their airline, destination country and Pakistani authorities.
This distinction is important because a government proposal is not the same as an implemented travel regulation.
Hepatitis C Screening Could Be Linked With CNICs
Another major part of the proposal is the possible connection between Hepatitis C screening and Pakistan’s Computerized National Identity Card system.
The government is considering whether screening information could eventually be linked with CNIC records. Such a system could potentially make it easier to track screening coverage and connect people who test positive with healthcare services.
However, linking medical information with identity records would also require strong privacy and data-protection safeguards.
A future digital system would need clear rules covering who can access medical results, how information is stored, how long it is retained and how patients can obtain or correct their records.
The exact structure of any CNIC-linked screening system has not yet been publicly finalized.
Who Could Be Screened Under the Program?
Pakistan’s national screening campaign is being expanded in phases.
Authorities have established screening points in Islamabad, while private hospitals are also expected to receive testing kits and digital devices as the program expands.
The government has indicated that screening will eventually be available across the country, with priority given to people aged above 12.
Authorities have also discussed screening certain groups, including people returning to Pakistan after deportation. Officials further announced plans to screen all flights for a three-month period as part of the current campaign.
The broader national program is intended to make testing more accessible rather than limiting screening to large hospitals.
According to WHO, Hepatitis C testing can involve an antibody test followed by a molecular test for HCV RNA when the initial result is positive. This helps distinguish people who have been exposed to the virus from those with a current infection requiring treatment.
Why Early Hepatitis C Detection Matters
One of the biggest challenges with Hepatitis C is that infection may remain unnoticed.
WHO notes that new Hepatitis C infections are usually asymptomatic, while chronic infection can remain undiagnosed until significant liver damage develops.
Without appropriate diagnosis and treatment, chronic Hepatitis C can contribute to:
- Liver fibrosis
- Cirrhosis
- Liver failure
- Liver cancer
The good news is that Hepatitis C is now highly treatable.
WHO reports that modern direct-acting antiviral medicines can cure more than 95% of people with Hepatitis C infection. Treatment is generally based on oral medicines and can be completed within a relatively short period, depending on the patient’s condition and treatment regimen.
This is why screening can be valuable. Detecting an infection before severe liver damage develops gives patients a better opportunity to receive treatment.
Free Treatment Under Pakistan’s National Program
The government’s expanded screening campaign is also connected to free treatment for eligible patients.
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said the government would provide medicines worth around Rs. 68,000 free of charge to patients through the Prime Minister’s program.
Citizens have been encouraged to use government screening and treatment facilities rather than waiting until symptoms appear.
The approach is consistent with the wider goal of identifying people with Hepatitis C and quickly connecting them with treatment.
WHO’s latest global guidance supports approaches that make Hepatitis C testing and treatment easier to access through primary healthcare and decentralized services.
What Travelers Should Do Right Now
For people planning to travel abroad from Pakistan, there is currently no reason to panic over the proposed Hepatitis C test before foreign travel.
Instead, travelers should keep the following points in mind:
1. Wait for an official notification.
Do not assume that a proposed requirement is already in force.
2. Check airline and destination requirements.
Different countries can have different medical or entry requirements.
3. Consider voluntary screening.
People who believe they may have been exposed to Hepatitis C can speak with a qualified healthcare professional about testing.
4. Keep medical records secure.
If digital health records become connected with identity documents in the future, travelers should understand how their information is being used.
5. Follow official Pakistani government updates.
Any mandatory international-travel screening policy should be accompanied by formal instructions explaining how travelers can comply.
6. Do not rely on symptoms alone.
Hepatitis C can be present without obvious symptoms, which is one reason screening programs are important.
7. Seek medical advice after a positive screening result.
A positive antibody screening result does not necessarily mean there is an active infection. WHO recommends confirmatory testing for current infection.
What This Could Mean for Pakistan’s Travelers
If Pakistan eventually introduces a mandatory Hepatitis C test before foreign travel, it could represent a significant change in the country’s travel-health procedures.
The policy could potentially help identify previously undiagnosed infections and connect more people with treatment. At the same time, implementation would need to be carefully planned so that airport processing does not create unnecessary delays or confusion.
Clear rules would also be important for privacy, testing standards, certificate validity and the treatment of travelers who receive a positive result.
For now, however, the key message is simple: the requirement is under consideration, not a confirmed universal travel rule.
Final Thoughts
Pakistan is significantly expanding its national Hepatitis C screening campaign, and the government is now considering whether a Hepatitis C test before foreign travel should become mandatory.
The proposal comes alongside plans to expand screening nationwide, potentially connect screening information with CNICs and provide free treatment to eligible patients.
Hepatitis C is a serious but treatable disease. WHO says modern antiviral treatment can cure more than 95% of infected people, making early diagnosis an important part of disease control.
Travelers should therefore monitor official announcements but should not assume that a mandatory pre-travel Hepatitis C test is already required. Until a formal policy is announced, international travelers should continue following existing travel and health requirements.
