The Sindh High Court on Thursday directed the provincial health secretary and the police chief to submit a detailed report on an alleged HIV outbreak at a hospital in Karachi.
The petition, submitted by citizen Tariq Mansoor, was heard by a two-member SHC bench comprising Justice Adnanul Karim Memon and Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry.
According to the court order, the case concerns reports of an HIV outbreak at Kulsum Bai Valika SESSI Hospital in SITE, Karachi, where the alleged reuse of contaminated syringes and serious medical negligence reportedly infected between 84 and more than 200 children, with several deaths also reported.
The bench noted that the hospital operates under the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI), a public healthcare institution responsible for providing treatment facilities to insured workers and their families.
The court emphasised that as a public medical facility handling a high number of patients daily, the hospital carries a legal responsibility to ensure safe and proper healthcare services.
The petitioner argued that despite repeated reports in national media about the outbreak, authorities had failed to conduct an independent, transparent, and timely investigation to determine accountability of the officials and medical staff allegedly involved.
According to the petition, a legal notice had already been served to relevant authorities demanding an impartial inquiry, criminal proceedings against those responsible, public release of investigation findings, medical screening and treatment for affected children, and compensation for victims.
However, the petitioner maintained that no meaningful action had been taken so far apart from a communication issued by the provincial Labour and Human Resources Department, which only requested a report from SESSI.
The court order further stated that an initial list containing details of children allegedly infected with HIV due to the reported reuse of contaminated syringes at the hospital had been submitted as part of the case record, while the petitioner claimed the actual number of affected children could exceed 200.
The petitioner also pointed out that concerns over unsafe syringe practices had drawn international attention, referencing a report by the BBC on a similar incident at a government hospital in Taunsa, Punjab.
During the proceedings, the Sindh assistant advocate general requested additional time to submit official comments, after which the court granted a two-week extension. The hearing was subsequently adjourned until July 20 at 11:30 am.
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