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Pakistan Mandates Pre-Surgery HIV Tests
20 Aug
Summary
- Mandatory pre-surgical HIV screening ordered for Pakistan.
- Focus on preventing healthcare-associated HIV transmission.
- Special attention for children living with HIV.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has mandated pre-surgical HIV screening for all procedures involving skin piercing or incisions across Pakistan, as of August 20, 2026. This directive, issued during a Joint Working Group on HIV/AIDS meeting, aims to prevent healthcare-associated transmission of the virus.
Officials noted that Sindh, Punjab, and the Islamabad Capital Territory have already implemented such screening. The minister instructed Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan to formalize and issue notifications to enforce this requirement, ensuring a uniform national standard.
Minister Kamal also called for enhanced support for children living with HIV. This includes integrating nutritional, psychosocial, and welfare services with clinical treatment. Furthermore, provincial healthcare commissions will be involved in future meetings to evaluate infection prevention and control practices, targeting issues like unsafe injections and blood safety.
