Home / Health / Pakistan's Healthcare Crisis: Unsanitary Practices Fuel HIV Surge
Pakistan's Healthcare Crisis: Unsanitary Practices Fuel HIV Surge
2 Sep
Summary
- Children contracted HIV from unsafe medical practices at a Karachi hospital.
- Reusable syringes and poor hygiene are blamed for recent pediatric HIV cases.
- Systemic healthcare failures, low spending, and stigma exacerbate the crisis.
In August 2025, Ayesha Aftab's children were treated at Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Following antibiotic injections, all three tested positive for HIV. Dozens of other parents report similar infections at the government-run facility, with at least six children later dying.
Families allege the reuse of syringes and IV needles, a practice also identified in a 2019 HIV outbreak in Larkana, Sindh province, which infected nearly 500 children. Multiple inquiries into Valika Hospital have noted safety lapses and improper syringe handling.
This ongoing crisis is linked to broader healthcare system failures in Pakistan. Experts cite poor injection practices, unregulated blood services, and reliance on informally trained providers. Inadequate healthcare spending and understaffing contribute to a "perfect storm" for unsafe medical practices.
Beyond infection, children face lifelong treatment and societal stigma. Activists are working to combat prejudice, as many associate HIV with shame. Families report discrimination, with some children denied school admission due to their diagnosis.
Authorities have pledged financial compensation and implemented measures like nationwide HIV screenings and a ban on certain syringe types. However, deep-rooted systemic issues and weak disease surveillance make the true extent of HIV in Pakistan difficult to ascertain.
