KARACHI: Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal has announced that HIV screening will now be made mandatory before any surgical procedure as part of strengthened measures to control the spread of the virus.
The statement was made during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, chaired by Mahesh Kumar Malani.
During the session, health ministry officials briefed lawmakers on the growing burden of HIV cases in the country.
Officials revealed that the number of registered HIV/AIDS cases in Pakistan has reached 84,000, out of which 61,000 patients are currently receiving treatment, while more than 16,000 have been lost to follow-up.
They added that the rise in reported cases is largely due to increased screening efforts across the country.
Between 2020 and 2025, the number of testing centres increased from 49 to 97, resulting in screening of over 300,000 individuals, with more than 14,000 testing positive.
Members of the committee highlighted unsafe medical practices, particularly the reuse of syringes, as a major cause of HIV transmission.
In response, the health minister said that following consultations with the Prime Minister, a decision has been made to ban the reuse of all types of syringes, including 10cc syringes, and to ensure compulsory HIV screening before surgical procedures.
He also informed the committee that Pakistan is receiving $65 million in support from the Global Fund for HIV prevention efforts.
However, only $3.9 million has been allocated directly to the Ministry of Health, while the majority of funds are being managed by non-governmental organizations.
Committee members recommended that all relevant institutions provide detailed briefings in the next meeting to improve coordination and strengthen the national response to HIV.
