Experts Warn of Growing HIV Risk in Pakistan, Urge Crackdown on Unsafe Medical Practices
By Bilal Haider :
Health experts in Pakistan have called for urgent nationwide enforcement of infection control measures, warning that unsafe healthcare practices are fuelling a rise in preventable diseases, including HIV/AIDS and Mpox.
Speaking at a press conference organised by the Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan in Karachi, specialists described the situation as deeply concerning, pointing to repeated outbreaks linked to healthcare settings.
Doctors said Pakistan has witnessed multiple HIV outbreaks since 2019, many of them associated with unsafe medical procedures such as the reuse of syringes and poor infection control. They warned that the country is moving beyond a concentrated epidemic among high-risk groups towards a broader public health crisis affecting the general population.
Recent cases involving children have heightened alarm. At least 15 children in Karachi were diagnosed with HIV in late 2025, with fatalities reported, while clinicians at major hospitals say dozens more cases have emerged in recent months, many in advanced stages of the disease.
Medical professionals noted that in a large number of paediatric cases, mothers tested negative for HIV, indicating transmission through contaminated medical procedures rather than from parent to child. Histories of repeated injections, blood transfusions and treatment at multiple facilities including unregulated providers were frequently identified.
Experts also raised concerns about shortages of essential medicines, including antiretroviral and tuberculosis drugs, warning that supply disruptions could lead to drug-resistant infections and further strain the healthcare system.
They highlighted systemic challenges, including understaffed hospitals, limited resources and a widespread preference for injectable treatments over oral medication. While acknowledging these constraints, they stressed that strict adherence to infection control protocols, particularly the use of single-use syringes, is critical.
A newly launched report at the event found that HIV-related deaths in Pakistan have risen sharply over the past decade, while testing and treatment coverage remain among the lowest globally. Only a small proportion of those living with the virus are diagnosed and receiving care.
The report also traced several major outbreaks over the past two decades to unsafe healthcare practices, including incidents in Larkana, Faisalabad, many of which disproportionately affected children.
Experts warned that without urgent reforms, including tighter regulation of healthcare providers and improved oversight of medical practices, the spread of infections could accelerate further. They said immediate action is needed to protect patients and prevent avoidable loss of life.
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