SHC orders high-level probe into HIV spread among children at Karachi hospital

2 months given to determine real number of affected children, causes of HIV transmission, whether syringes were reused

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday ordered a high-level inquiry into the spread of HIV among children treated at Karachi’s Kulsum Bai Valika (KBV) Hospital, directing a committee headed by the Sindh chief secretary to establish how the infections occurred and determine the actual number of affected children.

The case concerns an outbreak at the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI)-run hospital that initially emerged among children of industrial workers and their families, with allegations that unsafe medical practices, including the reuse of syringes, led to the transmission of HIV. The number of confirmed cases rose as screening expanded, while the government maintained that those found responsible for negligence would face action.

In its written order, the SHC’s constitutional bench directed the chief secretary to constitute an “empowered” inquiry committee comprising two senior Grade-20 officers.

The committee was given two months to submit a detailed report, which would determine the “actual number of affected children”, the causes of HIV transmission and whether syringes were reused, the court said.

The bench said it would examine the report before issuing any appropriate orders. The court also directed the Sindh government and SESSI to ensure that all medical treatment required by the affected children was provided free of charge.

It ordered the chief secretary to expedite the process of providing financial assistance and compensation to the affected children and their families.

The court further made clear that children living with HIV and their families must not be subjected to any form of discrimination and that their confidentiality must be maintained.

The authorities were also directed to identify those responsible for the outbreak and take legal action against them.

Read: HIV case uproar: SHC judges retire to chambers

The court’s order came after the proceedings over the outbreak had continued for weeks, with the petitioner and affected families raising allegations of medical negligence and shortcomings in the authorities’ response.

In its latest order, the court also issued a contempt-of-court show-cause notice to the petitioner’s counsel Tariq Mansoor over alleged misbehaviour and sloganeering during the proceedings. It directed that CCTV footage from inside and outside the courtroom be preserved and ordered legal action against those found involved in the disorder.

The court ultimately disposed of the petition after issuing its directions for the inquiry, treatment, compensation and protection of the affected children and their families.

HIV outbreak reaches SHC

The petition was filed by Advocate Tariq Mansoor, who alleged that more than 200 children of industrial workers had contracted HIV at KBV Hospital and that nine had died. The petition claimed the outbreak was linked to the reuse of contaminated disposable syringes.

When the case first came before the SHC on July 3, the court directed the provincial government to submit a detailed inquiry report within two weeks and issued notices to senior government officials and other respondents.

The government subsequently reported a lower number of confirmed cases. Later, on July 14, Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani said that more than 10,500 people had been screened at Valika Hospital and in the surrounding area, with 120 testing positive for HIV. He said 81 were SESSI beneficiaries and the remaining 39 were also receiving free treatment from the government.

Ghani said the affected children were being treated at five major hospitals and that another 10 HIV-positive cases had been identified among around 2,000 people screened at SESSI’s Landhi Hospital.

He said show-cause notices had been issued to 37 doctors and members of staff and that those found responsible would face disciplinary and legal action.

Read More: Total HIV cases at Karachi’s KBV hospital rise to 80 as preteen, toddler test positive

The Sindh government also established a Rs2 billion endowment fund for the treatment and welfare of HIV-affected children and their families.

The proceedings became more contentious at the August 11 hearing, when Mansoor again alleged that nine children had died and that inquiry records were being concealed. He claimed around 1,200 children had been diagnosed with HIV in Sindh and alleged that reused syringes had caused infections.

Affected families told the court that several children were being treated on a single bed and alleged that the same syringe had been repeatedly used. One father told the court that the same syringe had allegedly been used on his three children.

The SESSI counsel told the court that officials had been suspended, show-cause notices issued and Rs2 billion allocated for affected people.

The hearing ended with an uproar after the bench reserved its order, prompting the judges to retire to their chambers.