Pakistan facing “generalised HIV epidemic” amid unsafe medical practices: Zafar Mirza

Pakistan is facing a “generalised epidemic of AIDS,” with unsafe healthcare practices driving a rapid rise in blood-borne diseases across the country, former health minister Dr Zafar Mirza has warned.

Unsafe medical practices driving spread

In a statement shared on X, Mirza said Pakistan has the fastest-growing number of AIDS cases in Asia, citing estimates by UNAIDS. He said recent revelations from a BBC documentary highlighting conditions in Taunsa’s Tehsil Headquarters Hospital represent “only the tip of the iceberg,” with similar practices reportedly present in districts nationwide.

We are sitting on a generalised epidemic of AIDS in Pakistan. UNAIDS estimates that Pakistan has the fastest-growing number of AIDS cases in Asia.

What BBC film has revealed in Tunsa THQ is a tip of the iceberg. Same practices are rampant in all districts of the country. All… pic.twitter.com/7N29ZhvY3X

— Zafar Mirza (@zfrmrza) April 15, 2026

He warned that the spread of HIV and other blood-borne infections is being fuelled by widespread medical malpractice, including the reuse of disposable syringes by healthcare workers and drug users, unscreened blood transfusions, and unhygienic practices such as shared shaving instruments. He also noted that Pakistan has one of the world’s highest hepatitis C burdens, affecting an estimated 10 million people.

Mirza recalled that following an HIV outbreak in Rato Dero in 2020, a national task force was established to promote injection safety, resulting in a National Action Plan and a ban on the import, manufacture, and use of reusable disposable syringes. He said the shift towards auto-destruct syringes marked progress, but implementation gaps remain due to weak governance and lack of accountability.

Governance gaps and repeated outbreaks

He said repeated outbreaks, including in Jalalpur Jattan in 2009 and other incidents, reflect a systemic failure to sustain reforms beyond short-term responses. According to him, weak supply chains, unfilled posts in public hospitals, and underfunded health services continue to undermine healthcare delivery, particularly for low-income populations who rely on public facilities.

Mirza warned that media attention typically fades after outbreaks, while underlying risks remain unaddressed.

Call for urgent health reforms

He said children are among the worst affected, with some reportedly contracting HIV due to unsafe injection practices, requiring lifelong treatment in cases of survival. He described the situation as a “scandal” and urged immediate corrective action.

Calling for health to be made a fiscal priority, he stressed that Pakistan must reduce dependence on international donors and take greater ownership of its healthcare system. “These are our children, our people and our responsibility,” he said, urging urgent reforms to prevent further outbreaks and strengthen accountability in the health sector.