A tragic child HIV outbreak in Punjab has exposed serious medical negligence after investigators uncovered unsafe injection practices at a government hospital.
Eight-year-old Mohammed Amin died shortly after testing positive for HIV. His mother described his final days as extremely painful, with severe fever and suffering. Soon after, his sister Asma also tested positive for the virus.
Their family believes both children contracted HIV during routine medical treatment at THQ Taunsa, located in Taunsa.
These cases form part of a larger outbreak affecting at least 331 children between November 2024 and October 2025. Health experts suspect contaminated injections as the primary cause.
A local doctor, Dr Gul Qaisrani, first raised concerns after noticing an unusual increase in HIV cases among children visiting his private clinic. Many of these patients had received treatment at the same hospital.
Authorities responded by suspending the hospital’s medical superintendent in early 2025 and promising strict action. However, new findings show that unsafe practices continued even after these measures.
During an undercover investigation, observers spent 32 hours inside the hospital and recorded multiple violations. Staff reused syringes on multi-dose medicine vials at least ten times. In several cases, they administered medication from the same vial to different children, increasing the risk of infection.
Medical experts warn that even if staff change the needle, reusing the syringe body can still transmit viruses like HIV. The contamination risk remains high because the virus can survive inside the syringe.
Investigators also documented widespread neglect of basic safety protocols. Staff administered injections without sterile gloves dozens of times. In one instance, a nurse handled medical waste without proper protection, violating essential hygiene standards.
These practices highlight deeper issues in infection control training within healthcare facilities.
When confronted with the findings, Dr Qasim Buzdar, the hospital’s current medical superintendent, denied the authenticity of the footage. He suggested it might have been recorded earlier or staged and maintained that the hospital remains safe for patients.
Despite these claims, the evidence points to ongoing risks for children receiving treatment at the facility.
This outbreak has raised urgent concerns about healthcare safety standards, particularly in public hospitals. It also underscores the need for stricter monitoring, proper training, and accountability to prevent similar incidents in the future.
