Ministry plans at least one HIV screening, treatment centre in every district
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations, in a bid to combat rapidly increasing HIV AIDs cases in the country, has planned to establish at least one HIV screening and treatment centre in every district of the country to ensure citizens have access to quality treatment facilities at their doorstep.
Federal Minister for National Health Services, Mustafa Kamal stated while chairing a high-level meeting with the concerned quarters here on Monday.
The minister said that the ministry, in collaboration with other stakeholders, has initiated measures to combat HIV AIDs including establishing treatment centres and improving border health screening.
The participants of the meeting discussed and reviewed the current HIV/AIDS situation in Pakistan following a report by The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS released in December 2025.
Senior officials of the Central Management Unit and representatives of international partner organizations attended the meeting.
The WHO and UNAIDS have warned that Pakistan was witnessing the fastest growth of the HIV epidemic as in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region, new infections over the past 15 years have witnessed an increase of two-fold, from 16,000 in 2010 to 48,000 in 2024. The WHO and UNAIDS have called for action to reverse a trend that has made Pakistan home to one of the fastest-growing HIV regions.
The main goal is to end the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which applies to the most advanced stages of HIV infection, as a public health threat by 2030. It is estimated that 350,000 people are living with HIV in Pakistan, but almost eight in every 10 infected persons do not know their status. Children are increasingly affected, with new cases among those aged 0-14 years surging from 530 cases in 2010 to 1,800 in 2023. Over the last decade, Pakistan has increased eight-fold the number of persons living with HIV who receive antiretroviral therapy (ART) – from around 6,500 in 2013 to 55,500 in 2024 – thanks to joint efforts by the government, UN entities, and partners.
The country has also increased the number of antiretroviral therapy centres from 13 in 2010 to 95 in 2025. Despite progress, only an estimated 21 percent of Pakistanis living with HIV knew their status, 16 percent of them were on treatment, and 7 percent had achieved viral load suppression. Over 1,100 AIDS-related deaths were reported in 2024 in Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister emphasized the urgent need to further strengthen HIV prevention, timely diagnosis, availability of treatment, and public awareness campaigns across the country. The minister also instructed that implementation of Border Health Services Regulation recommendations be made more effective and that proper screening of every individual entering through borders must be ensured.
He further called for the development of a regular reporting mechanism in this regard. Highlighting existing gaps, the minister noted that the timely diagnosis of all people living with HIV in the country is still not being fully achieved, stressing that coordinated and effective practical measures are indispensable to address the challenge.
He underscored that public awareness remains the cornerstone of an effective fight against HIV/AIDS and urged citizens to act responsibly by getting themselves screened. He stated that this is not only a matter of individual health but also of the safety of families and society at large. The Federal Government, he affirmed, is fully committed to addressing this important public health issue on a priority basis.
According to the Ministry of Health spokesperson, all partner organizations appreciated the ongoing efforts under the leadership of the Federal Health Minister and reaffirmed their commitment to continue full cooperation with the Ministry of Health.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026