An investigation by the BBC has revealed serious medical malpractice in the children’s ward of a government hospital in Taunsa, months after it was linked to a major HIV outbreak. The report centres on the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Taunsa, where HIV cases among children surged in late 2024 and claims that unsafe practices continued into 2025 despite official assurances of action.
Covert footage documented major infection control breaches including the reuse of syringes, injections administered through clothing, the use of contaminated vials and untrained individuals treating patients. Poor medical waste handling and exposed needles were also observed with experts warning that such practices carry a high risk of spreading diseases like HIV.
According to the findings, at least 331 children tested HIV-positive between November 2024 and October 2025 with 19 new cases reported recently and nine deaths linked to the infection. Most parents tested negative, raising concerns that transmission may be linked to healthcare settings rather than households.
Hospital officials denied the allegations suggesting the footage may be outdated or staged, while authorities maintained that no conclusive evidence directly links the hospital to the outbreak. In response, the Punjab health department said corrective actions had already been taken and criticised the report for not reflecting these efforts.
Officials highlighted a joint mission involving UNAIDS, UNICEF and the World Health Organization, which screened around 50,000 people and helped establish treatment and screening centres. Authorities also reported sealing 240 illegal clinics, introducing single-use syringes and expanding healthcare services suggesting that unregulated facilities may be a significant source of infections.
Despite these measures, the investigation raises ongoing concerns about healthcare safety and oversight with experts stressing the need for stricter enforcement of infection control standards to protect vulnerable patients, particularly children.
Keywords:
Taunsa HIV outbreak, BBC investigation Pakistan, hospital malpractice Punjab, child HIV cases Pakistan, healthcare safety crisis, infection control violations
Asian Burg | Health Desk
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