- Investigation reveals lapses in HIV and hepatitis testing at hospital.
- Sufferers weren’t examined for necessary HIV screening for over yr.
- Officers accused of protecting up first HIV case reported in October.
MULTAN: A four-member fact-finding committee has uncovered life-threatening malpractices within the dialysis ward protocols at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital, doubtlessly resulting in the unfold of lethal HIV amongst already terminally ailing sufferers.
A report by the investigation panel has pulled the curtain on the hospital authorities’ failure to implement commonplace working procedures (SOPs), together with common HIV and hepatitis screening and the usage of sterilised gear for every affected person.
In line with the report’s findings, medical officers on the dialysis ward had not performed necessary HIV checks for over a yr, violating healthcare pointers that require such screenings each six months. Equally, hepatitis checks, mandated each three months, have been additionally uncared for.
The primary HIV case on the dialysis unit was reported on October 11, however the administration allegedly tried to cowl up the incident, fearing backlash from sufferers, households, and the media.
Even a month later, the households of 25 affected sufferers stay untested, elevating issues about additional transmission.
The committee has held senior hospital officers, together with the medical superintendent, head of nephrology, and a senior registrar, liable for the negligence that led to sufferers contracting the lethal HIV.
Earlier this week, Punjab Well being Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique tasked a four-member fact-finding committee, led by Punjab Human Organ Transplant Authority (PHOTA) Director Normal Professor Shahzad Anwar, to analyze the matter.
A go to by South Punjab’s extra chief secretary earlier this month revealed malfunctioning dialysis machines on the hospital.
Senior docs, talking anonymously, claimed that impoverished sufferers have been typically pressured to hunt remedy at personal dialysis clinics, which lack correct sterilisation protocols. These clinics, they alleged, are breeding grounds for infections, together with HIV.
Docs additional alleged that Nishtar Hospital did not totally display screen sufferers earlier than dialysis and used inadequately sterilised machines, doubtlessly spreading the virus.
Whereas some sources estimate the variety of HIV-positive instances linked to the dialysis ward to be round 30, Nishtar Hospital Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Kazim Khan vehemently denied this determine.
“HIV-positive sufferers’ dialysis is carried out on devoted machines, and all sufferers endure thorough screening earlier than remedy,” claimed Dr Khan.
Khan defined that the latest incident concerned a affected person who had beforehand examined detrimental for HIV however was later discovered to be constructive.
Well being consultants have warned that the true extent of HIV transmission at Nishtar Hospital stays unsure, with the danger of extra instances rising.