Missing HIV patients spark concern as cases surge in Pakistan
A Pakistani couple, both HIV-positive, sit in their home in Karachi, Pakistan, 02 May 2026 (issued 06 May 2026). Pakistan's health ministry told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Health on 05 May 2026 that nearly 20,000 HIV patients who had initiated treatment at antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres are now ''missing'' out of about 84,000 registered cases, highlighting major gaps in patient follow-up and retention. Officials estimate that around 369,000 people are living with HIV in Pakistan, with 14,000 new infections reported in 2025, while annual cases have risen from 16,000 in 2010 to 48,000 in 2024, making it one of the fastest-growing epidemics in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. Despite a relatively low national prevalence of 0.2 %, localized outbreaks and increasing paediatric infections have raised concerns over unsafe medical practices, poor infection control and weak regulatory enforcement. The country's HIV response is largely supported by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which has allocated about $65 million for the current funding cycle, working with partners including United Nations Development Programme, as authorities review governance, transparency and patient tracking challenges. EPA/SHAHZAIB AKBER ATTENTION: This Image is part of a PHOTO SET
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