ISLAMABAD: A stark contrast has been noted between the federal government’s ambitious healthcare directives and the lived experiences of patients on the ground. While the Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations has announced a sweeping new initiative to eradicate Hepatitis C by 2030, a recent public account from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has cast a spotlight on the systemic hurdles that continue to plague the country’s largest public health facility.
On May 5, 2026, Federal Minister for Health, Syed Mustafa Kamal, chaired a high-level meeting to review the establishment of 21 new diagnostic counters across Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. The initiative is a cornerstone of the government’s broader strategy to address a significant national health crisis: with an estimated 10 million people affected by Hepatitis C, the government has set a firm target to eliminate the disease within four years.
وفاقی وزیرِ صحت مصطفیٰ کمال کی زیرِ صدارت ہیپاٹائٹس سی کے خاتمے سے متعلق اعلیٰ سطحی اجلاس منعقد ہوا، جس میں اہم حکام نے شرکت کی۔ اجلاس میں ملک بھر میں تشخیصی کاؤنٹرز کے قیام اور تیاریوں کا جائزہ لیا گیا۔ وزیر صحت نے بتایا کہ پاکستان میں ایک کروڑ سے زائد افراد ہیپاٹائٹس سی سے… pic.twitter.com/iECJzsSu7k
— Syed Mustafa Kamal (@KamalMQM) May 5, 2026
During the session, the Minister emphasized the availability of free treatment for patients and the strategic rollout of PCR testing at designated counters. The government’s messaging is clear: a “coordinated strategy” and “collective efforts” are being mobilized to ensure that diagnostic services reach those who need them most.
The Ground Reality: A Patient’s Perspective
Hours after the official announcement, reports surfaced on social media from an Islamabad based journalidst detailing experiences that directly challenge the government’s narrative of accessible care. A patient account from the emergency department at PIMS—the capital’s primary referral hospital—described being turned away without a check-up, an experience the individual characterized as “humiliating.”
ابھی دوگھنٹے پمز کی ایمرجنسی میں ایک مریض کے ساتھ ذلیل ہونے کے بعد بغیر چیک اپ کروائے واپس نکلنا پڑا اور ٹویٹر پر وفاقی وزیر صحت ہر قسم کا علاج مفت کررہے ہیں https://t.co/72pJ1WH80Z
— Muhammad Zareef (@muhammadzareef_) May 5, 2026
This grievance is not an isolated incident but rather a symptom of the deep-seated challenges facing PIMS. As the largest public health facility in Islamabad, PIMS has long struggled to balance its mandate with severe capacity constraints.
The “disconnect” noted by observers lies in the gap between high-level policy formulation and the delivery of front-line services. PIMS has frequently been cited in reports as being overwhelmed, with patient inflow far exceeding its designed capacity. Historical data suggests the hospital often operates under:
– Capacity Overload: Patient volume often dwarfs the available bed and medical staff capacity.
– Resource Scarcity: Despite ministerial promises, systemic funding issues have previously led to shortages of essential medical supplies, necessitating that patients or their attendants procure basic surgical and diagnostic items themselves.
– Infrastructural Strain: The institution faces chronic pressure due to a lack of decentralized primary healthcare centers, forcing patients from across the region to congregate in the capital for even basic needs.
While the government’s goal of eliminating Hepatitis C by 2030 is a vital public health objective, experts argue that the success of such specialized programs depends heavily on the robustness of the institutions responsible for implementing them. Without addressing the foundational issues—such as staff shortages, supply chain reliability, and the overcrowding of tertiary care centers like PIMS—the ambition of digital policy may continue to falter when it meets the reality of the emergency room.
For the Ministry, the challenge now extends beyond establishing diagnostic counters; it requires ensuring that the promise of “free treatment” is matched by a healthcare environment that can actually deliver it with dignity to every citizen who walks through its doors.
