A bombshell disclosure has rocked Pakistan’s health sector: around 20,000 HIV-positive individuals enrolled in ART centers have disappeared from records. This was revealed during a tense parliamentary session, spotlighting massive gaps in patient tracking and care continuity.
The Standing Committee on Health in the National Assembly heard from officials that these patients, critical to the nation’s HIV control efforts, are no longer traceable. Committee chair Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani pushed back against the health ministry’s bid for secrecy, prioritizing public accountability amid rising infections.
Data paints a grim picture. HIV cases have surged 200% in 15 years, hitting 48,000 new diagnoses in 2024 from 16,000 in 2010. Total infected: 369,000; registered: 84,000. With 14,000 fresh cases in 2025, the loss of 20,000 treated patients signals a retention crisis.
Key drivers include unregulated syringe sales, lax blood screening, and weak public education. Stigma and fear of discrimination cause dropouts. Though overall prevalence is low at 0.2%, regional outbreaks in areas like South Punjab demand urgent intervention.
The child HIV outbreak in Karachi hospitals—linked to reused needles—has fueled calls for emergency measures. Specialists urge mandatory safe practices, a national database for infectious diseases, and bolstered counseling to keep patients in care.
Funded largely by international aid, Pakistan’s programs falter on execution. The committee’s probe reveals not just medical lapses but deeper societal issues. Retaining these 20,000 patients isn’t optional—it’s essential for bending the epidemic’s curve and safeguarding future generations.
