HIV Test Declared Mandatory Before Surgeries Across Pakistan

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has mandated HIV screening prior to all surgical procedures involving skin incisions or punctures across Pakistan. The directive was announced during a meeting of the Joint Working Group on HIV/AIDS at the ministry. The minister instructed health authorities in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan to issue notifications enforcing pre-surgical HIV testing.

Sindh, Punjab, and the Islamabad Capital Territory have already implemented this requirement. Kamal emphasized the need for a consistent standard throughout the country. He also highlighted the importance of special attention to children living with HIV, calling for comprehensive care that includes nutritional, psychosocial, and welfare support alongside clinical treatment to enhance quality of life and treatment outcomes.

Furthermore, Kamal directed provincial healthcare commissions to attend the next meeting to assess infection prevention and control practices. He stressed the necessity of addressing unsafe injections, inadequate infection-control protocols, and gaps in blood safety within the national framework.