30 patients contract HIV due to negligence of Multan hospital staff

A disturbing case of severe negligence emerged at Punjab’s largest hospital, where a patient died, and 30 others contracted Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) from a dialysis machine. 

Authorities reportedly attempted to cover up the incident.

According to Dawn, the management of Multan’s Nishtar Hospital failed to take precautions when initially alerted about patients contracting the virus. 

Instead, they allegedly tried to suppress the matter. 

The issue only came to light after a 40-year-old kidney disease patient, identified as Shaehzeb, died. 

He had tested positive for HIV after undergoing dialysis at the nephrology department. 

Upon his infection, doctors requested the management to provide an isolation ward, but their request was denied, with higher authorities stating that isolation wards were reserved for dengue and other cases.

Nishtar Medical University (NMU) Registrar Prof Ghulam Abbas, was the head of the nephrology department.

Sources reported that the patient was infected by a dialysis machine designated for HIV/AIDS patients. 

Due to inadequate preventive measures, 30 other patients also contracted HIV, creating alarm among hospital staff over a possible wider outbreak.

This incident marks the highest number of simultaneous HIV cases reported in a public sector hospital.

Although the issue has been circulating since October 26, the head of the nephrology department allegedly seized patient records to hide the details of the incident.

An anonymous official told Dawn that while patients are screened for infectious diseases before dialysis, but negligence by medical staff may have allowed an unscreened patient onto a dialysis machine.

Describing the case as appalling medical negligence, the official confirmed that NMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Mehnaz Khakwani has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.