Nishtar Hospital in South Punjab is facing accusations of negligence after an HIV/AIDS outbreak affected dozens of kidney patients. A fact-finding committee was formed to investigate the situation following the death of a kidney failure patient, after which 30 others tested positive for HIV/AIDS. All 30 patients had kidney ailments and were undergoing dialysis at the hospital.
The investigation revealed that the hospital failed to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) for pre- and post-dialysis care. The committee highlighted lapses in sterilizing dialysis machines and ensuring safety during blood transfusions, which could have led to the HIV transmission. Additionally, the hospital’s failure to maintain proper medical records made it difficult to confirm whether patients were already infected before treatment.
The report has been sent to the provincial government for further action. An official noted that the case tarnished the country’s reputation. In response, Nishtar Hospital has denied the allegations. Prof. Mehnaz Khakwani, the hospital’s vice chancellor, suggested the patients might have contracted HIV from private clinics used for blood tests. Meanwhile, the hospital’s management is accused of trying to make junior doctors and residents the scapegoats for the incident.