Increased screening drives up reported HIV figures

ISLAMABAD: Medical specialists at the HIV Centre of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences have voiced concern over an increase in the number of patients being registered, with cases among children described as particularly worrying.

Officials said concealment of the infection and failure to get screened continue to pose serious risks. They added that a higher number of cases is currently being detected among men.

Dr Zubair Abdullah, programme manager of the AIDS Control Programme, said the rise in cases being seen at the PIMS HIV Centre is mainly linked to a greater number of people coming forward for screening. He said there is an urgent need to raise public awareness to help prevent HIV, while also noting that wider screening at health facilities is a positive sign.

He said a similar increase in testing has also been observed at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Polyclinic Hospital Islamabad, which has contributed to higher reported numbers.

189 people registered since October 2025

According to figures issued by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, 189 people have been registered as HIV-positive since October 2025.

The ministry’s data showed that the highest monthly total was recorded in March 2026, when 40 cases were reported, while January 2026 saw 41 cases. In the first 20 days of April, 11 new cases were registered.

The reported figures also show that male patients outnumber female patients. Cases have also been identified among transgender persons, while the detection of HIV in children remains a matter of concern.

Officials say figures do not indicate an outbreak

The Common Management Unit for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which works under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, said the numbers reflect the cumulative total of new patients who presented at healthcare facilities in Islamabad over a 15-month period.

The unit said these figures should not be taken as evidence of a fresh outbreak or a sudden spike in infections. Monthly registrations have stayed within a normal range, with only minor variations that are considered routine.

According to officials, the trend is being driven by improved awareness, better access to testing and treatment, and a growing willingness among people to seek medical attention. They said these developments, on their own, do not point to an epidemic situation.

Both Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Polyclinic Hospital in Islamabad are among the country’s major public-sector hospitals. The two facilities serve not only residents of the federal capital but also patients arriving from other parts of the country.