Key Takeaways
- The number of HIV cases linked to the Kulsum Bai Valika Hospital outbreak in Karachi has reached 120.
- The Sindh Labor Minister confirmed that criminal cases will be filed against those responsible for negligence.
- An additional screening drive identified 10 more HIV-positive cases at SESSI’s Landhi Hospital.
The Sindh government has announced the filing of criminal cases against doctors and staff involved in a recent HIV outbreak linked to Kulsum Bai Valika (KBV) Hospital in Karachi. The number of diagnosed individuals now stands at 120, according to Sindh Labor Minister Saeed Ghani.
Addressing a press conference at the Sindh Assembly on Tuesday, Ghani disclosed that over 10,500 people were screened in Valika Hospital and its surrounding areas, with 81 of those affected being registered beneficiaries of the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI). The remaining 39 individuals receive free treatment from the government.
The minister also revealed that an additional screening at SESSI’s Landhi Hospital identified 10 more HIV-positive cases. He emphasized the ongoing need for early diagnosis as a critical tool in controlling the spread of the disease, stating that no new outbreak cases have been reported since October 2025.
Ghani confirmed that all cases link back to infections acquired before October 2025 and rejected allegations of government indifference. The Health Department’s Communicable Disease Control team began screening residents immediately after the first cases emerged in October last year, with an inquiry committee formed within days.
The initial inquiry recorded 16 HIV-positive children and two deaths, while a subsequent report identified 78 confirmed cases and six fatalities. Show-cause notices have been issued to 37 doctors and members of staff, who will face strict disciplinary and legal consequences if found guilty.
To address the issue, the Sindh government has established a Rs2 billion endowment fund for the treatment and welfare of infected children. Ghani assured that the amount would increase if necessary, adding that the identities of those infected would be kept confidential under the Sindh HIV and AIDS Control, Treatment and Protection Act 2013 to shield them from social stigma.
In response to questions about medical waste disposal, which was identified as a primary cause of the outbreak, Ghani stated that clinical waste management operates under the Sindh Hospital Waste Management Rules. However, certain individuals refused to comply with prescribed procedures for personal gain, and punitive measures against such elements are underway.
Dr Abdul Bari Khan, Founder of Indus Hospital and Health Network, described the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C in Pakistan as a matter of grave concern, calling for coordinated efforts by the government, healthcare institutions, and other stakeholders to reduce case numbers. Dr Faisal Mahmood, Associate Chief Medical Officer and infectious disease specialist at Aga Khan University Hospital, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the issue extends beyond a single hospital.
Show-cause notices have been issued to 37 doctors and members of staff, and those found guilty will face strict disciplinary and legal consequences.
Saeed Ghani, Sindh Labor Minister
Clinical waste management operates under the Sindh Hospital Waste Management Rules, but certain individuals refused to comply with prescribed procedures for personal gain.
Saeed Ghani, Sindh Labor Minister
