Over 20,000 HIV patients in Pakistan have disappeared after starting antiretroviral therapy, out of a total of 84,000 registered cases, sparking fears of potential community transmission. Pakistan has seen a significant surge in new HIV infections over the last 15 years, with numbers spiking by 200%, from 16,000 in 2010 to 48,000 in 2024, making it a major hotspot in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. Despite public awareness campaigns, the country has struggled to curb the epidemic.
The 84,000 registered cases represent only a fraction of the estimated 369,000 people living with HIV in Pakistan, complicating efforts to identify high-risk groups. Unsafe sexual practices and drug use remain primary transmission routes, but other factors like unsafe medical practices and poor infection control also contribute to the spread, affecting children and spouses. Children, in particular, have seen a rise in infections, with cases in the 0-14 age group increasing significantly over the years.
The National AIDS Control Programme in Pakistan, reliant on external aid, is facing severe funding and staffing shortages, with reports of corruption leading to the theft of donated supplies worth $800,000. The rise in HIV cases is not just a health concern but a result of systemic failures within the healthcare system, with lapses in infection control and the persistence of banned syringe reuse contributing to what experts describe as a “man-made epidemic.” The situation has been described as a real-time system failure that puts children and low-risk individuals at risk of HIV infection.
