Islamabad, Jan 25 (NationPress) A staggering 3,995 registered HIV-positive children have been identified in Pakistan's Sindh province, with over 100 new cases emerging in Karachi in 2025, according to a recent report. This alarming situation unveils a profound failure in infection control and regulation.

These nearly 4,000 children, many of whom were not born with HIV but contracted it through negligent practices in healthcare facilities, point to a significant crime of negligence, as highlighted by Pakistan's esteemed newspaper, The Express Tribune.

The Express Tribune emphasizes that the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has issued a 'high-level alert' regarding the disturbing rise in pediatric HIV cases, which should prompt immediate action from authorities. The figures are alarming: 3,995 registered HIV-positive children in Sindh and over 100 new cases reported in Karachi in 2025, indicating a systemic failure in infection control and regulation.

This is not the first alert for Pakistan; the 2019 Ratodero tragedy—where numerous children were infected—was a critical moment that led to investigations and promises of reform. However, six years later, PMA must reveal the increasing number of HIV cases among children.

As reported by The Express Tribune, the current crisis is particularly troubling because it is largely preventable. Unsafe injections, reused syringes, unregulated blood banks, and illegal clinics run by unqualified practitioners continue to operate without consequence. The PMA has rightly cautioned that this is not merely a medical emergency but a socio-economic catastrophe in the making.

Furthermore, a report from December last year indicated that the escalating HIV crisis in Pakistan is not just a medical issue but also reflects institutional decay and the repercussions of years of neglect, the failure to enforce basic health standards, and the human cost of corruption. Regionally, Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in HIV cases, ranking second among nations in the Asia-Pacific region.

The shocking statistics illustrate the use of contaminated syringes, unregulated blood transfusions, fraudulent doctors, and violations of medical regulations. Health officials have confirmed 3,995 registered HIV-positive children in Sindh, a number that represents only documented cases, according to a report in the European Times.

Data reveals that over 600,000 fraudulent doctors are practicing in Pakistan, with 40% of them located in Karachi. This highlights the deepening crisis of medical malpractice in the country. With inadequate oversight, these fake doctors operate without restrictions, reusing syringes, mishandling blood, and performing unsafe procedures that further exacerbate the spread of HIV.

According to the European Times, Pakistan’s healthcare system, long burdened by underfunding and mismanagement, has repeatedly failed to comply with global standard operating procedures (SOPs) for infection prevention and control. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNAIDS have set clear protocols for safe blood transfusions, syringe disposal, and patient management.

The limited number of HIV treatment centers in Pakistan face shortages of testing kits, antiretroviral medications, and trained staff, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Patients often struggle to find basic care, moving from one hospital to another.

The report concludes by stating, "Pakistan’s deepening HIV crisis is more than a medical emergency; it is a reflection of institutional decay. It highlights the consequences of years of neglect, the failure to uphold basic health standards, and the human cost of corruption. The tragedy of nearly 4,000 HIV-positive children in Sindh, the epidemic of fraudulent doctors, and the routine use of contaminated medical tools together form a damning indictment of the state’s indifference. This is not a mere tale of a virus spreading quietly; it is a story of systemic failure that allows the virus to thrive."