Body formed to probe HIV cases in Nishtar dialysis unit

LAHORE:On the instructions of Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, Health secretary has appointed a four-member fact-finding committee to investigate the incident of patients infected HIV through negligence on the part of staff in the dialysis unit of Nishtar Hospital Multan.

Under the leadership of PHOTA Director General Prof Shahzad Anwar, Project Director Punjab Aids Control Programme, Head of Nephrology Prof Dr Zahid Rafique of Sims Lahore and Deputy Secretary Technical from the Department of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education are part of this fact-finding committee.

The Secretary of the Department of Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education said that the fact-finding committee will visit Nishtar Hospital Multan and collect all the evidence. The fact-finding committee will seek facts from as many AIDS patients as possible.

Fact-finding committee will determine the persons responsible for the incident and submit a report. The fact-finding committee will also review the HIV testing facilities at Nishtar Hospital, Multan. The provincial health secretary has directed the fact-finding committee to submit the investigation report of the Nishtar Hospital Multan incident in the next 48 hours.