Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has ordered mandatory HIV screening for all surgical procedures involving skin piercing or incisions across Pakistan [1, 3].
The directive aims to reduce healthcare-associated transmission of HIV in response to a rise in reported cases within the country [1, 2].
Kamal said the instructions were issued Wednesday, Aug. 20, targeting all medical facilities nationwide [3]. The mandate specifically includes instructions for health authorities operating in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan [1].
Under the new policy, medical practitioners must ensure patients are screened for the virus before any invasive procedure begins. This measure is intended to protect both patients and healthcare workers from accidental exposure during surgery [1, 2].
Health officials said the move is a critical step in addressing the spread of the virus within clinical settings [1]. By identifying HIV-positive patients before surgery, hospitals can implement necessary precautions to prevent the cross-contamination of blood and surgical instruments [2].
The federal government has not yet released specific penalties for facilities that fail to comply with the screening requirement [1, 3]. However, the directive emphasizes that the screening process must be integrated into the standard pre-operative protocol for every patient undergoing an incision [3].
“Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has ordered mandatory HIV screening for all surgical procedures involving skin piercing or incisions.”
This policy shift indicates a transition toward aggressive preventative screening in Pakistan's public health strategy. By making testing a prerequisite for surgery, the government is attempting to close gaps in infection control that have historically led to iatrogenic transmissions—where patients contract diseases through medical treatment. The specific focus on remote regions like Gilgit-Baltistan suggests an effort to standardize care across diverse provincial health systems.
