A parliamentary panel has sounded the alarm after being informed that nearly 20,000 HIV patients who were enrolled at antiretroviral therapy centres across Pakistan have dropped out of treatment and cannot currently be traced, raising fears about treatment failure and further spread of the virus.
The disclosure was made during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on health, where officials conceded that patient follow-up, counselling, and long-term retention remain among the weakest links in Pakistan’s HIV response.
Lawmakers described the situation as both urgent and deeply troubling, warning that losing contact with such a large number of patients could reverse years of progress.
Health ministry officials told the committee that Pakistan has an estimated 369,000 people living with HIV, yet only around 84,000 are registered with treatment and support services.
Official data presented at the meeting showed that 14,000 new HIV cases were reported in 2025 alone, underlining the continued spread of the infection despite expanded screening efforts.
Members of the committee stressed that rising testing numbers should not be confused with disease control. While HIV screening increased sharply from about 37,000 tests in 2020 to more than 374,000 in 2025, lawmakers said the real indicator of success would be a sustained decline in new infections. That, they argued, has yet to happen.
Repeated outbreaks in different parts of the country were cited as evidence of systemic failure. Areas such as Taunsa, Kot Momin, and parts of South Punjab have reported clusters of infections over recent years, often linked to unsafe injection practices and poor infection control.
Committee members said these incidents point to weak regulation, limited enforcement, and inadequate monitoring of healthcare providers.
Officials also briefed lawmakers on the Walika outbreak in Karachi, where investigations traced infections to the use of 10cc syringes.
The ministry acknowledged that these syringes had not been banned earlier and said all reusable syringes, including 10cc variants, would now be phased out under stricter controls.
However, legislators questioned why banned syringes continue to be sold openly in markets despite earlier policy decisions.
Beyond medical practices, the committee highlighted social and structural barriers. Persistent stigma around HIV testing and treatment discourages patients from remaining in care.
Weak oversight of blood banks, limited public awareness campaigns, and poor coordination between federal and provincial authorities were also flagged as contributing factors.
Analysis from public health experts suggests that patients going missing from treatment is often linked to fear, discrimination, travel costs, and lack of counselling at the time of diagnosis. Without sustained support, many patients disengage from care, increasing the risk of drug resistance and onwards transmission.
Cross-border health risks were also discussed. Lawmakers noted that people deported from other countries often return without proper health screening. In response, officials said a mechanism was being developed to link exit and entry records so returnees could be screened and monitored.
“HIV control depends as much on retention and trust as it does on testing,” said a senior public health specialist. “Losing thousands of patients after diagnosis is a warning sign that the system is failing the very people it is meant to protect.”
The ministry informed the committee that a comprehensive master plan was being drafted to address gaps in HIV prevention, treatment, and monitoring.
Lawmakers, however, pressed for immediate steps, including the nationwide rollout of auto-disable syringes, tougher action against unsafe medical practices, and time-bound targets to prevent further loss of patients.
