Bathinda district has reported 10,100 cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) between 2019 and April 2026, according to data obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application. The figures, provided by local health authorities, highlight a persistent public health challenge in the region.
Year-Wise HIV Cases
The number of HIV-positive patients in Bathinda stood at 1,130 in 2019, followed by 1,003 in 2020, 1,079 in 2021, 1,775 in 2022, 1,820 in 2023, 1,460 in 2024, 1,358 in 2025, and 475 cases recorded up to April 2026. The data was compiled by the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Centre.
Role of Intravenous Drug Abuse
Sonu Maheshwari, a social rights activist who obtained the information, stated that his NGO, Naujawan Welfare Society, works with drug-dependent individuals and facilitates their treatment at hospitals. He noted that the rising number of HIV cases is primarily due to intravenous drug consumption using common syringes and the reuse of needles by multiple individuals. Maheshwari emphasized that drug addiction among youth remains a serious concern in the district, with new videos showing youths under the influence of drugs appearing almost daily.
Enhanced Screening Efforts
District Health Officer Dr. Usha Goyal explained that the higher numbers are linked to enhanced screening. She said that all individuals registered at the Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) Clinics in the district were screened. Among those found infected at OOAT centres, over 60 percent are intravenous drug abusers. Dr. Goyal added that the ART Centre continues to monitor and report HIV cases to track the epidemic and guide intervention strategies.
