KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has ordered strict accountability, uninterrupted treatment, and long-term rehabilitation for children affected by the HIV outbreak at Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital, warning that negligence in healthcare services will not be tolerated.
Chairing a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister House on Monday, the chief minister was informed that 78 children have so far been diagnosed with HIV. He directed the Labour Department, Health Department, and Sindh Employees' Social Security Institution (SESSI) to ensure free treatment, medicines, diagnostic services, and continuous follow-up for all affected children.
The meeting was attended by Labour Minister Saeed Ghani, Chief Secretary Sindh Asif Hyder Shah, Labour Secretary Sajid Jamal Abro, Health Secretary Tahir Sangi, the SESSI Commissioner, and other senior officials.
Officials told the meeting that the issue first surfaced in October 2025 after six HIV-positive cases were detected. Subsequent investigations identified serious administrative lapses and deficiencies in infection prevention and control, particularly in the hospital's paediatric ward and laboratory.
The inquiry highlighted the absence of standard operating procedures, inadequate sterilization monitoring, improper biomedical waste disposal, shortages of biohazard containers and disposable medical supplies, poor record-keeping, insufficient HIV testing facilities, and weak follow-up of HIV patients.
The meeting was also informed that a second inquiry committee submitted its report in June 2026, recommending disciplinary action against several officials for administrative and operational negligence. As a result, 37 officers and members of the medical staff, including former and current administrators, doctors, nurses, laboratory personnel, and support staff, have been suspended and served show-cause notices.
Labour Minister Saeed Ghani said several corrective measures had already been implemented, including the establishment of an Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Centre at the hospital, development of infection control protocols for all SESSI healthcare facilities, and training of healthcare workers across the province.
The chief minister directed authorities to conduct a third-party audit of the hospital, strengthen monitoring mechanisms, and ensure that disciplinary proceedings against responsible officials are completed without delay.
Murad Ali Shah also recalled that the provincial government had established a Rs2 billion endowment fund to support the treatment, welfare, rehabilitation, and long-term care of HIV-affected children and their families.
He stressed that the incident should serve as a turning point for strengthening patient safety standards across Sindh and ordered a comprehensive review of infection control systems in all SESSI hospitals and healthcare facilities to prevent similar incidents in the future.
