Hospital at centre of child HIV outbreak caught reusing syringes in undercover filming
Undercover Evidence Reveals Syringe Reuse in Hospital Linked to Child HIV Outbreak
Two Children’s Stories Highlight Contamination Risks
Eight-year-old Mohammed Amin died shortly after learning he had HIV, with his mother Sughra recalling his severe fevers and agony, likening his condition to “being thrown in hot oil.” Ten-year-old Asma, who also tested positive, shared her grief at her brother’s grave, describing his struggles. Both children were treated at THQ Taunsa Hospital in Punjab, Pakistan, where their families suspect HIV was transmitted via contaminated needles during routine injections. These cases are part of a larger pattern: BBC Eye has identified 331 children in Taunsa diagnosed with HIV between November 2024 and October 2025.
Undercover Footage Exposes Persistent Unsafe Practices
In late 2025, BBC Eye’s 32-hour covert recording at THQ Taunsa revealed syringes being reused on multi-dose vials ten times. Four instances showed the same vial administered to separate children, raising concerns about viral spread. While it remains unclear if any of the affected children were already HIV-positive, the practice poses significant transmission risks. Dr. Altaf Ahmed, a microbiology expert, emphasized that “even with a new needle, the syringe body retains the virus, ensuring it transfers.” Despite visible signs of proper injection protocols, staff repeatedly used non-sterile gloves, including a doctor, during 66 injections. A nurse was also seen handling medical waste without protection.
Authorities’ Response and Continuing Concerns
Local officials had promised a “massive crackdown” after a private clinic linked the outbreak to THQ Taunsa in late 2024. The hospital’s medical superintendent was suspended in March 2025, yet unsafe practices persisted. When confronted with the footage, Dr. Qasim Buzdar, the new superintendent, dismissed its authenticity, claiming it could have been staged or recorded before his tenure. He insisted his hospital adhered to safety standards.
Data Indicates Contamination, Not Mother-to-Child Transmission
Dr. Gul Qaisrani, a local private clinic physician, first noticed the surge in HIV cases among children in late 2024. He noted that 65 to 70 of the affected children had received treatment at THQ Taunsa. One mother reported her daughter was injected with a syringe used by an HIV-positive cousin, and the same needle was later reused on others. Qaisrani also recounted a father’s complaint about syringe reuse being ignored by staff.
Tracking the Outbreak Through Multiple Sources
BBC Eye combined data from Punjab’s Aids screening program, private clinics, and a leaked police dataset to confirm 331 HIV-positive children in Taunsa during the specified period. Among 97 tested families, only four mothers were HIV-positive, suggesting most infections were not from mother-to-child transmission. The provincial government cited 106 cases in March 2025, but the exact cause for many remains unspecified, with “contaminated needle” listed for over half the cases.
Dr. Tayyab Farooq Chandio, previously suspended from THQ Taunsa, was later working at a rural health center in the outskirts of Taunsa as a senior medical officer. He claimed the hospital was not responsible for the outbreak, despite his earlier involvement. The undercover findings, however, cast doubt on the hospital’s commitment to preventing further infections.
