Health minister dismisses reports of HIV outbreak in Taunsa, Islamabad

Says currently 84,000 registered HIV cases in country, with only 21,000 patients receiving treatment

ISLAMABAD:

Health Minister Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday rejected reports of an HIV outbreak in Taunsa, Islamabad, stating that there were currently 84,000 registered HIV cases in the country, with only 21,000 patients receiving treatment, Radio Pakistan reported

The minister was referring to a BBC report published earlier in April exposing cases of “serious malpractice” in the children’s ward of a government hospital in Taunsa, Punjab, continuing months after the facility was linked to an HIV outbreak among children last year. A surge in HIV cases at Taunsa Tehsil Headquarters Hospital was first reported in late 2024.

The broadcaster reported that after 106 children were infected, officials announced a “massive crackdown” and suspended the hospital’s medical superintendent in March 2025. However, an insider told the BBC that conditions remained unchanged.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad today, the minister stated that no outbreak had been reported in Taunsa or Islamabad in 2026, adding that the incident in Taunsa dated back to 2024.

"There are 618 registered cases in Islamabad, including 210 local cases, while 408 are from outside the city," he said.

Minister for National Health Services @KamalMQM announces plan to expand network of ART Centres for HIV screening and treatment#RadioPakistan #news https://t.co/W0BqLDQH1y pic.twitter.com/XqYFS24Omq

— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) April 28, 2026

Kamal said that according to experts, there should have been around 369,000 HIV cases in Pakistan, but only 84,000 had been recorded, with 21,000 patients receiving treatment. The remaining patients were "missing."

Read More: NA panel takes alarm at Taunsa HIV cases, seeks detailed briefing

The minister, while providing data, said that in 2020, 37,944 people were screened at 49 centres across the country, with 6,910 testing positive.

"By 2025, the number of testing centres increased to 97, with 374,126 tests conducted and 14,182 positive cases detected," he added.

The minister said the trend remained "normal" and there had been no sudden rise in infections.

He said there were 160 districts across the country and 68 treatment centres for HIV, adding that the government was working to increase their number.

Kamal said the government was providing free medication, adding, "If these missing people are not taking medicine from here, they are not getting it from anywhere." He stressed that HIV was not incurable and did not lead to immediate death. "It is a misconception," he said. "The only condition is that medication must be taken for life."

The minister said that "treatment also prevents transmission of the disease to others," urging people not to hide their condition as secrecy could lead to further spread.

Kamal said that while Pakistan had been focused on preventing war, "false news" about HIV had emerged during that period. He added that the use of reused syringes had been banned, and now even 10cc syringes would be made single-use and non-reusable.

The minister called the Global Fund "the real champion" in the fight against HIV/AIDS but criticised the theft of $800,000 worth of medicated mosquito nets, saying it's "shameful that the world is helping us, and this is what we are doing."

He added that the health system was a matter of national security, warning that neglecting it could damage the economy.

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Last week, the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) termed the rising HIV cases in the country, particularly in Taunsa tehsil, alarming and directed that a detailed briefing be presented at the next meeting. Highlighting the situation in Taunsa, where 331 cases had been reported, the committee sought clarification on the matter.

Medical experts at the HIV Centre of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) expressed concern over a rise in patient numbers, noting that the presence of HIV cases among children was particularly alarming.

Dr Zubair Abdullah, Programme Manager of the AIDS Control Programme, said that the apparent increase in cases at the PIMS HIV Centre was largely due to more people coming forward for screening.

According to details released by the Ministry of National Health Services, the highest monthly figure was recorded in March 2026, with 40 cases, while January 2026 saw 41 cases. In the first 20 days of April, 11 new cases were reported.

Male patients outnumber females, with cases also identified among transgender individuals, while the detection of HIV among children remains a cause for concern.