Multan, November 18, 2024-The investigative commission probing the transmission of AIDS at Nishtar Hospital, Multan, has completed its inquiry and submitted a detailed report to the Health Secretary.
The report holds the senior registrar of the nephrology ward and three subordinate staff members responsible for the incident, citing gross negligence. It highlights the failure to follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) established by the Healthcare Commission.
According to the SOPs, patients undergoing dialysis are required to be tested for AIDS every six months and for Hepatitis every three months. However, the report revealed that AIDS testing for dialysis patients had not been conducted for the past year.
The commission found that the first case of AIDS in the dialysis unit was reported on October 11, but senior authorities and officials from the AIDS Control Program were not informed. The hospital administration reportedly attempted to suppress the matter and failed to screen the families of affected patients.
The report further disclosed that, of the 240 registered dialysis patients, only a limited number had been tested for AIDS, and 25 cases have been confirmed. Due to the severity of the issue, the dialysis unit has been closed for new patient treatments.
The investigation also criticized the hospital administration’s failure to ensure adherence to essential protocols, which could have prevented the outbreak. Immediate action against the responsible staff has been recommended.
The incident underscores the urgent need for strict compliance with healthcare regulations to prevent such lapses in patient safety and care standards.
