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
Two children, Mohammed Amin and Asma, died or became infected with HIV after receiving injections at a government hospital in Taunsa, Punjab, Pakistan. Amin, who was eight years old, suffered severe fevers and pain so intense that his mother, Sughra, described his condition as “like he’d been thrown in hot oil.” Asma, ten years old, was diagnosed with HIV shortly after her brother. Both families believe the infections stemmed from contaminated needles used during routine treatments at THQ Taunsa Hospital.
According to BBC Eye, 331 children in Taunsa tested positive for HIV between November 2024 and October 2025. A doctor at a private clinic first linked the outbreak to THQ Taunsa in late 2024. In response, local authorities pledged a “massive crackdown” and suspended the hospital’s medical superintendent in March 2025. However, the BBC Eye investigation reveals unsafe practices continued for months afterward.
Undercover Evidence of Syringe Reuse
During 32 hours of hidden camera footage, staff at THQ Taunsa reused syringes on multi-dose vials of medicine on ten occasions. In four instances, the same vial was administered to different children. Dr. Altaf Ahmed, a consultant microbiologist, explained that even with a new needle, the syringe body could still carry the virus, posing a significant risk of transmission.
“Even if they have attached a new needle, the back part, which we call the syringe body, has the virus in it, so it will transfer even with a new needle,” said Ahmed after reviewing the footage.
Despite posted guidelines on safe injection practices, the team observed staff, including a doctor, injecting patients without sterile gloves 66 times. A nurse was also seen handling medical waste without proper protection. Ahmed noted that these actions violated basic infection control standards.
Data Reveals Transmission Patterns
BBC Eye compiled data from the Punjab provincial Aids screening program, private clinics, and a leaked police dataset to identify the 331 HIV-positive children. Among 97 tested cases, only four mothers were positive, suggesting most infections were not from mother-to-child transfer. The mode of transmission for over half the cases was listed as “contaminated needle,” though details were missing for others.
Dr. Gul Qaisrani, a local clinic physician, was the first to notice the spike in pediatric HIV cases. He reported that 65 to 70 children diagnosed with HIV had been treated at THQ Taunsa. One parent recounted a child being injected with the same syringe as an HIV-positive cousin, while another claimed staff ignored concerns about reuse.
Leadership Changes and Continued Risks
Following the outbreak, Dr. Tayyab Farooq Chandio, THQ Taunsa’s medical superintendent, was suspended in March 2025. However, BBC Eye discovered he resumed working with children within three months as a senior officer at a rural health centre near Taunsa. Chandio insisted the hospital was not responsible for the outbreak, claiming he took “immediate” action upon learning of HIV cases.
Dr. Qasim Buzdar, the hospital’s new superintendent, disputed the authenticity of the undercover footage. He suggested the recordings could have been staged or taken before his tenure, downplaying the risks to patients.
