A team from the Global Fund, an international financing and partnership organization to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, is expected to arrive in Pakistan during the first half of May to investigate a surge in HIV cases across the country.
The visit follows reports of over 300 children testing positive for the virus in Taunsa, Punjab, allegedly due to the reuse of syringes. In Islamabad, 618 new cases have been recorded between January 2025 and March 2026.
The Ministry of National Health Services has directed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and the Common Management Unit (CMU) to develop a strategy to curb transmission if the viral disease.
This includes a specific focus on the reuse of syringes, which experts identify as a primary driver of the outbreak alongside inadequate blood screening before transfusions. While the government previously banned 2cc and 5cc syringes in favor of auto-disable versions, 10cc syringes remain available on the market and can be reused.
Ministry spokesperson Sajid Shah has stated that authorities are investigating whether these 10cc syringes are contributing to the spread and will take measures to ban them if necessary. Shah noted that Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal is treating the matter with urgency.
The Global Fund has invested over $1 billion in Pakistan over the last two decades to combat HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
However, a recent audit by the Fund’s Inspector General highlighted slow progress, citing weak governance, insufficient domestic financing, and frequent leadership changes as major hurdles.
Internal critics within the health ministry allege that the merger of disease control programs under the CMU shifted control from technical experts to bureaucrats. One official claimed that since this shift, some administrators have focused more on perks and privileges than on disease control. Experts suggest the Global Fund will likely push for technical professionals to be reinstated at the helm of these programs.
The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Health, led by Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, has sought a detailed briefing on the situation.
While official confirmation of the GF team’s arrival is pending, officials expect the delegation to travel from Geneva. The Global Fund operates in three-year cycles, providing approximately $250 million for disease control in Pakistan, with HIV funding split between the government and the private sector.
