Govt confirms hospital lapses behind HIV outbreak in 78 Karachi children
IV Report
KARACHI: The Sindh
government has for the first time officially confirmed that lapses at Kulsum Bai
Valika Hospital in Karachi led to HIV infections in 78 children, as 37 officers
and officials were suspended and a Rs2 billion rehabilitation fund announced,
according to details made available through an official hand after a high-level
meeting chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday.
A probe headed by
SESSI’s Medical Advisor found no standard operating procedures in the
hospital’s Paediatrics Department, inadequate supervision of sterilisation,
improper disposal of biomedical waste, and shortages of biohazard containers
and disposable medical items.
The committee noted
instances where single-use medical equipment, including syringes, “may have
been improperly handled,” while staff routinely flouted infection-prevention
protocols and skipped personal protective equipment. Documentation was poor,
HIV testing facilities were inadequate, and there was no structured follow-up
for patients and families.
Accountability and corrective steps
Briefing the meeting,
Labour Minister Saeed Ghani said disciplinary proceedings began in December
2025 against the then Medical Superintendent and nine others. A second
comprehensive inquiry report, submitted June 19, 2026 by a committee headed by
Chief Medical Officer Dr Naila Zaheer, fixed responsibility for administrative,
supervisory, and operational lapses.
As a result, 37
officers and officials — including former and serving administrators, doctors,
nurses, laboratory personnel, and support staff — have been suspended.
Show-cause notices were issued July 3.
The Provincial
Ombudsman had earlier taken suo motu notice, ordering the MS’s transfer, an
isolation ward, a third-party audit, and free treatment for all affected
children.
Chief Minister Murad
Ali Shah announced a Rs2 billion Endowment Fund for treatment, welfare, and
long-term rehabilitation of the children and their families. “The lives of
children are sacred. Any lapse in medical protocols that endangers patients is
unacceptable and will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law,” he
said.
The CM ordered a
province-wide review of infection-control practices across SESSI health
facilities, directing strict compliance with sterilisation, waste management,
and patient-safety protocols. “This incident must serve as a turning point for
strengthening patient safety standards,” he said.
Renowned paediatric
infectious disease specialist Prof Dr Fatima Mir of the Aga Khan University
Hospital has been engaged to oversee treatment. A third-party audit of hospital
procurement, inventory, and budget use is underway. A constitutional petition
on the matter remains pending before the Sindh High Court.
The findings presented
at the meeting underscore a stark prevention gap: while screening and ART
access have been scaled up, the infections themselves trace back to preventable
lapses in basic hospital hygiene and supervision at the Karachi hospital.
Photos:
Official sources
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