Punjab Chief Minister Suspends Medical Staff After HIV Outbreak in Dialysis Unit

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Lahore, Pakistan – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has suspended several senior medical staff members at Nishtar Hospital, Multan, following a shocking HIV outbreak allegedly linked to negligence during dialysis procedures.

The suspension includes the hospital's Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr. Muhammad Kazim, along with prominent doctors Dr. Ghulam Abbas, Dr. Poonam Khalid, Dr. Muhammad Qadeer, Dr. Maliha Johar, Dr. Muhammad Alamgir, and Head Nurse Naheed Parveen. The outbreak has sparked outrage, highlighting critical lapses in infection control protocols at one of the region's largest hospitals.

During a visit to the hospital, CM Maryam Nawaz called for immediate accountability, ordering compensation for the affected patients and directing the Secretary of Health to conduct a comprehensive investigation. The incident has drawn widespread attention to Pakistan's healthcare standards, with international health organizations calling for stricter oversight and better safeguards to prevent similar occurrences.

The alarming revelation underscores the urgent need for reforms in infection control practices across public healthcare institutions in Pakistan.