Pakistan healthcare crisis linked to rising HIV and Hepatitis C cases

A report highlighting deficiencies in Pakistan's healthcare system indicates rising rates of HIV and Hepatitis C. According to Dr. Naazir Mahmood, writing in The News International, the country faces one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region and carries the "world’s highest HCV burden."

Key drivers of these blood-borne infections include unsafe injections, poorly screened blood, inadequate sterilization, and weak regulation. The Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26 reveals that public health expenditure is only 0.8 percent of the GDP for a population exceeding 250 million.

The report notes a sharp divide in healthcare quality, particularly in Sindh. While cities like Karachi possess sophisticated private hospitals and medical specialists, poorer districts struggle with overcrowded facilities, unregulated practitioners, and poor sanitation. Other contributing factors to declining health include malnutrition, poverty, and limited access to primary healthcare.