Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday ordered mandatory HIV screening before every surgical procedure that involves skin piercing or cuts across Pakistan. The step aims to stop the virus from spreading inside hospitals and clinics.
The minister gave the clear instruction while chairing a meeting of the Joint Working Group on HIV/AIDS at the health ministry in Islamabad. He specifically told health officials in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan to issue formal notifications so the rule becomes law in those regions without delay.
Officials present at the meeting confirmed that Sindh, Punjab and the Islamabad Capital Territory already require HIV screening before any surgery that breaks the skin. Mr Kamal stressed that the same standard must now apply everywhere so no province is left behind.
He also asked for special care for children living with the virus. According to the minister, treatment for these children should not stop at medicines alone. Proper nutrition, emotional support and social welfare help must be added so the children can live healthier and more stable lives.
Mr Kamal further directed that provincial healthcare commissions should be invited to the next meeting. Their role will be to review Infection Prevention and Control practices in hospitals. He pointed out that unsafe injections, weak infection-control rules and gaps in blood safety still exist and must be fixed under one national plan.
The minister made it clear that healthcare-associated transmission of HIV remains a serious risk. By making HIV screening compulsory before every relevant surgery, the government wants to protect both patients and medical staff. He said the move is part of a wider effort to raise safety standards in public and private health facilities.
Officials left the meeting with a clear task list: issue the notifications, strengthen child support programmes and bring provincial commissions into the next review. The health ministry expects full compliance so that every operating theatre in the country follows the same protective protocol.
This decision marks an important step toward reducing new infections linked to medical procedures and improving overall patient safety nationwide.
