Body to probe HIV infections in Multan

LAHORE:

A four-member fact-finding committee has been constituted to investigate HIV infection of patients allegedly due to staff negligence in the dialysis unit of Nishtar Hospital in Multan.

The notification was issued on Thursday by the Punjab specialised healthcare and medical education secretary on the instructions of Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique.

The committee comprises Punjab Human Organ Transplantation Authority (PHOTA) Director General Professor Shahzad Anwar, Punjab Aids Control Programme Project Director Dr Zahid Rafique, the head of nephrology at the Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS) and a deputy secretary (technical) from the department of specialised healthcare and medical education.

The provincial secretary stated that the committee will visit Nishtar Hospital to collect all relevant evidence and speak with as many affected AIDS patients as possible.

The committee is tasked with identifying those responsible for the incident, reviewing HIV testing facilities in the hospital and submitting a comprehensive report within 48 hours.