Karachi Hospitals Report Sharp Rise In Paediatric HIV Cases Over Past Nine Months
Karachi hospitals report rising paediatric HIV cases linked to unsafe medical practices and system gaps.
A sharp rise in paediatric HIV infections has been reported in major hospitals across Karachi over the past several months, raising serious concerns over healthcare practices, infection control failures, and systemic gaps in Pakistan’s public health system.
According to hospital data and medical experts cited in local reports, cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among children have increased significantly between 2024 and 2025. At the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Centre, admissions of HIV-positive children rose from 10 cases in 2024 to more than 70 in 2025, with dozens more already recorded this year.
At another major facility, the Indus Hospital, 144 HIV-positive patients were reported in 2024, with additional cases continuing to emerge in 2025. In the first quarter of the current year alone, dozens of new infections have been documented, reflecting what doctors describe as an “alarming surge” in paediatric cases.
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Dr. Samreen Sarfaraz, an infectious disease specialist and head of infection control services at the Indus Hospital, said that since August 2025, 72 children under the age of 14 had been registered with HIV, with nearly 70% of them below the age of five. She warned that the trend points to deep-rooted systemic issues rather than isolated outbreaks.
Medical experts have attributed the rise primarily to unsafe healthcare practices, including the reuse of syringes, needles, IV sets, and cannulas, as well as the use of inadequately sterilised medical instruments. Concerns have also been raised over unsafe blood transfusion practices involving improperly screened blood supplies.
Doctors further noted that over-reliance on injections instead of oral medication in some healthcare settings may be contributing to increased transmission risks. They also pointed to funding shortages and disruptions in international aid, which have affected the availability of antiretroviral and tuberculosis medicines across the country.
Health professionals have warned that Pakistan is facing one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the World Health Organisation’s Eastern Mediterranean region. They have called for urgent enforcement of the National Action Plan for Injection Safety, alongside strict action against medical malpractice and unsafe clinical practices.
Experts say the crisis highlights the urgent need for stronger regulation, improved infection control protocols, and sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure to prevent further spread of the virus among vulnerable populations, particularly children.
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