KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday, Aug. 13, ordered the provincial government to form an independent committee to investigate an HIV outbreak among children at Karachi’s Kulsum Bai Valika Hospital, seeking to determine the number of affected patients, the possible source of transmission and whether medical safety rules were violated.
A two-member bench, led by Justice Adnanul Karim Memon and comprising Justice Muhammad Jaffer Raza, issued the order while announcing its reserved judgment on a petition seeking an independent inquiry, medical treatment and compensation for affected children.
The court said previous departmental inquiries and reports were not enough to determine the number of affected people, the cause of HIV transmission and whether infection control rules were followed.
The committee will be headed by the Sindh chief secretary, who will include two senior officers of at least BS-20 rank. The court said the chief secretary should preferably have no direct administrative connection with the hospital or the earlier inquiry.
The committee will examine medical and laboratory records, screening data, procurement and stock records, syringe use, duty rosters, infection control reports and other relevant material. It will also review the role of medical, nursing, technical, administrative and supervisory officials.
According to Sindh government data cited in the case, at least 78 children at the hospital were found to have HIV. Screening in the surrounding area identified 120 additional cases. The petitioner’s lawyer, Tariq Mansoor, claimed that the total number of infected children was about 200.
The court ordered the committee to submit its report within two months of its formation. It also directed the government and SESSI to provide affected HIV-positive children and other identified patients with free, uninterrupted medical treatment, including medicines, tests, counseling, and follow-up care.
