HIV outbreaks in Pakistani hospitals

Investigations into healthcare facilities in Pakistan have revealed significant HIV outbreaks among children, linked to systemic infection-control failures. In Punjab, an investigation at THQ Tausa hospital found that 331 children tested positive for HIV between November 2024 and October 2025. Evidence, including undercover footage, documented medical staff reusing syringes and medication vials, as well as administering injections without sterile gloves. While the hospital director was suspended in early 2025, the investigation suggests these dangerous practices persisted.

In Karachi, a similar crisis emerged at Kulsum Bai Valika Hospital, where dozens of children from low-income families contracted the virus following treatments for common ailments. Government inquiries identified the mishandling of single-use syringes and inadequate use of personal protective equipment as key factors. At least six children have reportedly died in connection with these treatments.

These incidents reflect a broader national trend in Pakistan where HIV infections are increasingly linked to unsafe medical procedures rather than traditional high-risk behaviors, contrasting with declining infection rates across much of the Asia-Pacific region.