A major healthcare lapse has come to light in Pakistan’s Punjab province after more than 300 children tested positive for HIV, with an undercover investigation revealing widespread reuse of contaminated syringe and serious violations of basic medical hygiene protocols at a government hospital.
According to findings from a probe, at least 331 children in Taunsa were diagnosed with HIV between November 2024 and October 2025. The data was compiled using provincial screening programmes, private clinic records and leaked police documents, pointing to an alarming spike in infections in the region.
The investigation, which involved over 32 hours of covert filming inside the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital in Taunsa, documented repeated breaches of safety standards. Footage reportedly showed medical staff reusing syringes on multiple patients, handling multi-dose vials in unsafe ways, and administering injections without wearing sterile gloves—practices that significantly increase the risk of cross-contamination.
Experts cited in the investigation indicated that even when a new needle is attached, reuse of the syringe body can still transmit infections, including HIV, if contaminated. The footage also captured instances where used syringes were picked up and passed on for reuse, along with improper disposal of medical waste, further compounding the risk of infection spread.
Health data analysis suggested that a majority of the affected children were unlikely to have contracted the virus through mother-to-child transmission, strengthening suspicions that unsafe medical practices played a central role in the outbreak. Families of several affected children also alleged that routine medical treatments at the hospital, particularly injections, were the likely source of infection.
The outbreak first drew attention when local doctors noticed an unusual rise in HIV cases among children in late 2024. Subsequent investigations linked many of these cases to treatments received at the same healthcare facility.
Despite the mounting evidence, hospital authorities have denied any wrongdoing. Officials questioned the authenticity of the undercover footage and suggested it may have been recorded outside their tenure or manipulated. They maintained that patient safety remains a priority at the institution.
The revelations have sparked widespread concern over healthcare standards and infection control practices in the region, with calls for stricter oversight and accountability. Public health experts warn that such lapses not only endanger patients but also risk triggering larger outbreaks if systemic issues are not urgently addressed.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of unsafe injection practices, a known contributor to the spread of blood-borne infections in parts of South Asia, and raised serious questions about regulatory enforcement in public healthcare systems.
