Islamabad: Two organizations receiving the bulk of Global Fund financing for HIV, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Nai Zindagi Trust, were not directly accountable to the government, raising concerns over transparency and coordination at a time when HIV infections are rising in the country, ministry of National Health Services told a parliamentary panel on Tuesday.
Briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal said that more than $61 million, around 93 percent of Global Fund grants for HIV over the past three years, had been disbursed through implementing partners including UNDP and Nai Zindagi Trust. He said the ministry had limited visibility into how these funds were being utilised.
The minister maintained that despite receiving only around 7 percent of the funding, the government continued to face criticism over the increasing number of HIV cases, and stressed the need for improved data sharing, transparency and coordination among all stakeholders involved in the response.
Secretary Health Aslam Ghauri also echoed these concerns, stating that the absence of structured reporting and oversight mechanisms for major grant recipients was affecting planning and evidence-based interventions.
The ministry informed the committee that out of 84,421 registered HIV cases in Pakistan, around 60,785 patients were currently on treatment, while efforts were under way to trace more than 23,000 individuals who were not in the treatment system.
The minister said over 14,000 new HIV cases were reported in 2025, adding that steps were being taken to expand screening, identify undiagnosed individuals and link them to treatment to reduce transmission.
The parliamentary panel, chaired by Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, noted that an estimated 369,000 people were living with HIV in Pakistan, pointing to a significant gap between estimated and reported cases. Members stressed that increased testing should not be equated with control, and that preventing new infections must remain the central goal.
A major concern raised during the meeting was the number of patients who had dropped out after initiating treatment at antiretroviral therapy centres. Officials acknowledged gaps in follow-up, counselling and patient retention, and said a comprehensive plan was being developed to address these issues.
The committee also examined factors contributing to HIV transmission, particularly unsafe medical practices. Officials informed the panel that reuse of syringes remained a key concern, with past outbreaks, including one in Karachi’s Walika area, linked to the use of 10cc syringes that were not previously regulated.
In response, the government has decided to phase out all reusable syringes, including 10cc variants, and promote the use of auto-disable syringes nationwide. The minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed authorities to take regulatory action in this regard.
Additional preventive measures discussed included screening of deportees at entry points and proposals to introduce HIV testing prior to elective surgeries to improve early detection.
Committee members criticised weak enforcement of existing regulations, noting that despite a ban on conventional syringes since 2021, such products continued to be available in the market. They also highlighted gaps in blood safety, limited awareness campaigns and persistent stigma as barriers to effective control.
Parliamentarians observed that localized outbreaks in areas such as Taunsa, Kot Momin and parts of South Punjab reflected shortcomings in infection prevention and control, and called for improved surveillance, district-wise data sharing and a coordinated national strategy.
The committee concluded that while increased screening had led to higher case detection, sustained efforts in prevention, transparency and patient retention were essential to control HIV in the country.
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