Hospital at centre of child HIV outbreak caught reusing syringes in undercover filming

Hospital at Centre of Child HIV Outbreak Caught Reusing Syringes in Undercover Filming

At just eight years old, Mohammed Amin succumbed to HIV shortly after diagnosis. His mother, Sughra, recalls his severe fevers compelling him to sleep outdoors, and his agonizing pain “as though he’d been tossed into hot oil.” Asma, a 10-year-old, remembers kneeling beside her younger brother’s grave, expressing both his struggle and affection. Shortly after Asma’s brother contracted the virus, she too was diagnosed with HIV. Their family attributes both infections to contaminated needles used during routine treatments at THQ Taunsa Hospital in Punjab, Pakistan.

Outbreak Linked to Contaminated Injections

BBC Eye has identified 331 children in Taunsa testing positive for HIV between November 2024 and October 2025. A private clinic physician flagged the outbreak in late 2024, linking it to THQ Taunsa. In response, local authorities vowed a “massive crackdown” and suspended the hospital’s medical superintendent in March 2025. Yet, a BBC Eye investigation exposed continued unsafe practices months later.

Undercover Evidence of Reused Syringes

During 32 hours of covert filming at THQ Taunsa in late 2025, staff reused syringes on multi-dose vials ten times. In four instances, the same vial’s contents were administered to separate children. While the exact impact remains unclear, the practice poses a significant risk of viral spread. Dr. Altaf Ahmed, a leading infectious disease specialist, explained,

“Even with a new needle, the syringe body retains the virus, allowing transmission.”

Training Gaps Exposed

Footage revealed staff, including a doctor, injecting patients without sterile gloves 66 times. A nurse also handled medical waste without protective gear. Ahmed noted,

“This footage shows a complete disregard for safe injection protocols.”

Despite posted guidelines, these lapses highlight systemic weaknesses in Pakistan’s infection control training.

Tracing the Spread

Dr. Gul Qaisrani, from a local private clinic, first detected the outbreak after noticing a surge in pediatric HIV cases. He reported that 65 to 70 children diagnosed with HIV had been treated at THQ Taunsa. One parent recounted a daughter receiving an injection from a syringe used on an HIV-positive cousin, while another claimed staff ignored concerns about syringe reuse.

Data Reveals Contaminated Needle Transmission

BBC Eye compiled data from Punjab’s Aids screening program, private clinics, and a leaked police dataset to pinpoint 331 HIV-positive children in Taunsa. Among 97 families tested, only four mothers were HIV-positive, suggesting most cases were not due to mother-to-child spread. The majority of cases listed “contaminated needle” as the transmission method, with some entries unspecified.

Hospital Superintendent’s Response

Dr. Tayyab Farooq Chandio, THQ Taunsa’s former medical superintendent, was suspended in March 2025 after the outbreak was reported. However, BBC Eye’s findings show he resumed working with children within three months as a senior officer at a rural health centre near Taunsa. In an interview, Chandio asserted,

“I acted immediately upon learning of the HIV case. The hospital was not responsible for the outbreak.”

He was later replaced by Dr. Qasim Buzdar, who questioned the authenticity of the footage.