Dehradun — The Coronation District Hospital in Dehradun currently has 1,625 active HIV cases, according to updated data from the Uttarakhand Health Department, marking a steady decline in HIV incidence over the past three years.
From 2006 to March 2025, the hospital’s Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) centre recorded nearly 6,800 HIV-positive cases, with 1,614 patients actively undergoing treatment during that period. In the current financial year (2024–25), only 87 new cases have been registered — a notable drop from previous years — with 47 of these cases originating from Dehradun. As of March 2025, only 14 cases have been reported so far this year.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Manoj Sharma attributed the decline to greater public awareness, safer practices, and the expansion of ART services across the region. “We are seeing a sustained drop in HIV numbers due to enhanced prevention efforts and more accessible treatment,” he said.
Annual registrations at the ART centre rose from 133 cases in 2021–22 to 184 in 2022–23, slightly dipped to 182 in 2023–24, and then fell sharply to 87 in 2024–25. Dehradun’s overall case load also declined from 639 cases in 2023 to 561 in 2024, and down to 117 cases by March 2025.
Dr. Sharma explained that the difference between total and active cases stems from deaths, treatment migration, or patient dropout. “We monitor patients every three months, especially those with comorbidities. If the treatment response is inadequate, we conduct further evaluations and offer specialised support,” he added.
The health department continues to push for routine testing, stigma reduction, and adherence to treatment protocols, as part of its strategy to eliminate HIV as a public health threat in the region.
