• By Aditya Jha
  • Sun, 24 Nov 2024 10:46 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has suspended the hospital's Medical Superintendent (MS) and several key staff members at Nishtar Hospital Multan for alleged negligence that led to the HIV outbreak among dialysis patients. The negligence involved reusing disposable dialysis kits and dialyzers. The hospital officials are also accused of not conducting mandatory AIDS and hepatitis tests every three months, Arab News reported, citing local news outlets. 

Hospital officials accepted that more than 20 patients contracted AIDS after undergoing dialysis. They also acknowledged that the equipment used in dialysis was previously contaminated by infected individuals. “Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz visited Nishtar Hospital Multan and suspended six officials, including MS Nishtar Hospital and the head of the nephrology department, on severe negligence,” Radio Pakistan was quoted as saying by Arab News. “She took action against doctors and nurses for spreading AIDS during dialysis,” it added.

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The chief minister suspended doctors MS Muhammad Kazim, Ghulam Abbas (Head of the Nephrology Department), Poonam Khalid (Associate Professor), Mohammad Qadeer (Senior Registrar), Maliah Johar, Mohammad Alamgir (Medical Officer in Nephrology Ward), and Head Nurse Naheed Parveen for the negligence. 

Maryam Nawaz also inspected the hospital during her visit and criticised the officials for not maintaining the standards. She expressed her dissatisfaction over the facilities and described the situation as “criminal negligence”. “It is unacceptable that patients who come to government hospitals for treatment end up contracting AIDS instead,” Maryam was quoted as saying by Pakistan's Geo TV.

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She has ordered the Secretary of Health to take strict action under the Peda Act against the responsible officers. Nawaz further instructed the doctors to compensate the affected patients. She remained firm in her stance following a protest by hospital doctors and paramedical staff. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the immune system and exposes the individual to several infections and cancers.