KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered Civil Hospital administration to start immediate treatment for transgender patients of HIV/AIDS. After transgender activists Shahzadi Rai and Hina Baloch, represented by advocate Sara Malkani, filed petition last week on matter of negligence towards transgender patients, court conducted hearing on hospital’s refusal to treat them, leading to subsequent order.

Two activists, who advocate for transgender rights, highlighted in their plea that hospital’s administration discriminates by denying treatment to HIV/Aids patients, including transgender individuals, thereby violating their fundamental human rights and turning them away without proper care.

Court, therefore has strictly directed hospital’s administration to immediately begin treating all patients of the disease, including transperson without any discrimination with prescribed protocols followed stringently. An implementation report has also been sought by court from provincial health secretary regarding matter after summer vacations.

Speaking with Thenews.com.pk, Baloch said that this issue has been going on for last two years with transgender patients of HIV/AIDS. “There were around six khwaja siras who were HIV positive of which cases of four patients were serious.”

She added that while medicines for illness are available at all hospitals, problem arises when there is surgical intervention of any sort due to any accident after which hospitals don’t cooperate with transpersons. We informed court that there are three more khwaja siras who need immediate medical relief and surgical intervention,” she said.

Published in The Daily National Courier, June, 08 2023

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