Hospital at centre of child HIV outbreak caught reusing syringes in Pakistan

4 hours ago

An undercover investigation at THQ Taunsa Hospital in Punjab, Pakistan, revealed unsafe injection practices, including syringe reuse, months after a child HIV outbreak was first reported.
331 children in Taunsa tested positive for HIV between November 2024 and October 2025, with evidence pointing to contaminated needles at the hospital as a primary transmission mode.
Hospital officials, including the medical superintendent, denied the footage's authenticity or timing, insisting the facility is safe, despite clear evidence of ongoing dangerous practices.
A joint mission by UNICEF, WHO, and local health departments confirmed similar unsafe conditions in inspections, highlighting broader systemic issues in infection control across Pakistan.
Systemic pressures, such as high demand for unnecessary injections and supply shortages, contribute to unsafe practices, mirroring previous outbreaks in other Pakistani regions like Ratodero and Karachi.
Affected families, including children like Asma, face lifelong HIV treatment and social stigma, with the outbreak underscoring critical failures in healthcare safety and training.

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