NA committee flags 20,000 untraceable HIV patients amid treatment gaps

Around 20,000 HIV patients who initiated treatment at antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres in Pakistan have become untraceable, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Health Services was informed during a meeting on Tuesday.

Officials from the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination shared the figures with the committee, chaired by MNA Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, highlighting serious concerns over patient follow-up, counselling and retention.

According to the ministry, an estimated 369,000 people are living with HIV in Pakistan, but only 84,000 cases are currently registered, indicating a substantial gap in detection and reporting. It added that 14,000 new cases were recorded in 2025 alone.

The committee termed the situation “urgent and sensitive” and stressed the need for coordinated national action. While noting that screening capacity had increased significantly — from 37,000 tests in 2020 to over 374,000 in 2025 — members cautioned that higher detection rates should not be mistaken for effective disease control.