Pakistan’s leading medical facility has faced allegations of negligence from medical professionals and staff regarding an HIV/AIDS outbreak that has impacted numerous kidney patients.
An investigative committee was established to examine the circumstances surrounding the death of a patient due to kidney failure, which subsequently led to the identification of 30 additional patients who tested positive for HIV/AIDS at Nishtar Hospital in southern Punjab.
The investigation revealed that all 30 individuals who contracted HIV/AIDS were suffering from kidney disorders and were undergoing dialysis at Nishtar Hospital. The committee comprised the Director General of the Punjab Human Organ Transplantation Authority, the project director of the Punjab AIDS Control Programme, the head of nephrology at the Services Institute of Medical Sciences, and a representative from the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department.
What were the findings of the investigation?
A representative informed Dawn that the hospital did not adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOP) required for pre- and post-dialysis care.
The insufficient application of universal precautions, including the proper sterilization of dialysis equipment and ensuring safety during blood transfusions, may have increased the risk of HIV transmission.
Additionally, the hospital neglected to maintain accurate medical records for its patients, which hindered the ability to verify that they were free from infectious diseases prior to receiving treatment.
The official indicated that the committee’s report has been submitted to the provincial government for further consideration, highlighting that the incident of HIV/AIDS transmission at a tertiary care facility has significantly damaged the nation’s reputation.
The hospital has refuted these allegations.
Nishtar Hospital has categorically denied all accusations made against it.
Prof. Mehnaz Khakwani, the vice chancellor of the hospital, asserted that the patients who tested positive for the virus may have contracted it from private clinics where they undergo blood testing.
Conversely, the hospital’s senior management has been accused by the official of attempting to shift blame onto junior doctors and residents.
