Pakistan's healthcare system has collapsed, minister says, as HIV and hepatitis C spread

Pakistan's healthcare system is in a state of collapse, with the spread of HIV and hepatitis C serving as stark indicators. The interior minister's blunt assessment highlights a crisis where basic medical practices have led to devastating consequences.

Recent figures reveal a grim reality: at least 7,500 children have contracted HIV through reused syringes and unscreened blood transfusions. This number excludes cases from Punjab, which has failed to share its data. The total death toll from HIV is estimated at 25,000, with the number of child fatalities unconfirmed. Compounding this crisis, Pakistan harbors the world's largest population infected with hepatitis C, around 10 million people, representing 20% of the global burden.

The transmission of these diseases often occurs within the very facilities meant to heal. Children are subjected to injections with reused syringes or IV drips, leading to infections that manifest as prolonged illness. Diagnosis often comes late, with children suffering lifelong treatment and potential long-term health effects, including developmental delays and organ damage. The interruption of essential viral load testing in Sindh and unclear monitoring in other provinces further exacerbates the situation.

Experts point to a multi-faceted failure: system, governance, and moral failings permeate the healthcare sector, reaching the highest levels of policymaking. This crisis is not merely a statistical problem but a daily tragedy for countless families who entrust their children's health to a system that, in many instances, is failing them catastrophically.

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whether “we admit it or not, this system has collapsed” and that “this system has to be reset”.