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An expose by the BBC<\/em> has revealed that \u201cserious malpractices\u201d in the children\u2019s ward of a government hospital in Punjab\u2019s Taunsa continued months after the facility was linked to an outbreak of HIV among children, the British broadcaster said.<\/p>\n A surge in HIV cases at Taunsa Tehsil Headquarters Hospital was reported<\/a> in late 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cPunjab authorities promised a crackdown \u2013 but months later, secret filming by BBC<\/em> Eye Investigations found that children\u2019s lives were still being put at risk,\u201d the broadcaster said in a press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n The revelations were made in a documentary podcast and have also been detailed in a written report<\/a>.<\/p>\n The BBC<\/em> said that months after 106 children were infected in Taunsa, health authorities promised a \u2018massive crackdown\u2019 and suspended the medical superintendent of THQ in March 2025, but an insider working in the hospital told the broadcaster that nothing had changed.<\/p>\n \u201cActing on evidence provided, the BBC<\/em> went undercover inside the children\u2019s ward in late 2025. Filmed covertly over several weeks, the BBC<\/em>\u2019s investigation reveals repeated and serious breaches of basic infection control,\u201d the BBC<\/em> said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe footage shows nurses injecting patients through their clothes, handing over dirty syringes for re-use, and unqualified volunteers injecting child after child from a blood-contaminated vial of liquid medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n The undercover filming also captured \u201cwider problems: staff handling medical waste with bare hands, syringes and needles left exposed, and unqualified volunteers \u2014 who were officially banned from the children\u2019s ward \u2014 operating without supervision\u201d.<\/p>\n Staff shortages and supply problems appeared to be contributing to the situation, according to the BBC<\/em>\u2019s findings.<\/p>\n In some cases, families were asked to buy their own medicines, the BBC<\/em> reported, adding that \u201cunder pressure, staff reused equipment or shared medication between patients to make limited supplies last\u201d.<\/p>\n The broadcaster further reported that at least 331 children in Taunsa tested positive for HIV between November 2024 and October 2025.<\/p>\n \u201cOf their parents who also agreed to be tested, fewer than one in 20 were HIV-positive. Infections continued even after the government intervention in March 2025\u201d.<\/p>\n The BBC<\/em> also spoke to Dr Altaf Ahmed, a consultant microbiologist and an expert on infectious diseases, who reviewed the broadcaster\u2019s undercover footage and \u201cconfirmed that the malpractice recorded at THQ carries a high risk of infecting children with blood-borne diseases, including HIV\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe chances [of infection] are very high,\u201d he said, \u201cbecause the vial is contaminated.\u201d<\/p>\n It also showed the undercover footage to the new medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr Qasim Buzdar.<\/p>\n \u201cDr Buzdar said the video must have been recorded before his tenure. When informed that the malpractice took place on his watch, Dr Buzdar claimed it might have been staged,\u201d BBC<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n \u201cInfection prevention controls are followed at THQ Taunsa,\u201d he was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n The report also had a statement by the local government that said \u201cno validated epidemiological evidence\u201d had \u201cconclusively established THQ as a source\u201d of the outbreak.<\/p>\n The previous Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Tayyab Chandio, also denied responsibility, the BBC<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n \u201cThe team discovered that just weeks after he was suspended from THQ in March 2025, Chandio was re-appointed to another government clinic in Punjab, where he continues to treat children.<\/p>\n \u201cThe local government told that \u2018no inquiry outcome has legally barred\u2019 Dr Chandio from practice. Dr Chandio said THQ hospital was not the cause of the outbreak,\u201d the broadcaster said.<\/p>\n According to the BBC<\/em>\u2019s findings, HIV infections among children in Taunsa are still being detected. \u201cNineteen new cases have been identified in the past four months. To date, nine of Taunsa\u2019s children have died after contracting the disease,\u201d the broadcaster reported.<\/p>\n In a rebuttal to the BBC<\/em>\u2019s investigation, the Punjab health department referred to a report by an international media outlet, without naming it.<\/p>\n The health department said all cases mentioned in the report were reported in December 2024 or in 2025, for which action had already been taken.<\/p>\n It further claimed that the media outlet had been provided with details of the \u201ccomprehensive measures\u201d taken by the health department after the outbreak, claiming that it had not been included in the report.<\/p>\n \u201cThis goes against the principles of responsible journalism,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n It added that following the diagnosis of AIDS in 11 patients from Taunsa at the Teaching Hospital in Dera Ghazi Khan in March 2025, the health department constituted a Joint Mission in that same month.<\/p>\n The mission included the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), United Nations Children\u2019s Fund (Unicef), World Health Organisation (WHO) and Common Management Unit (CMU).<\/p>\n \u201cA door-to-door screening of a population [of] 50,000 was conducted, which continued till August 2025,\u201d the statement said, adding that \u201c34 AIDS cases were identified in seven union councils. Of these, 331 patients were reported to be under the age of 12\u201d.<\/p>\n In March 2025, it said, a centre for HIV screening and treatment was established at the THQ hospital. A total of 5,000 individuals had been screened at the centre so far, and screening and treatment services were being provided there daily, the statement said.<\/p>\n It added that according to the joint mission, the cases could be a result of \u201cunscreened use of blood or repeated use of syringes\u201d at unregistered clinics or facilities run by quacks.<\/p>\n The health department said auto-disable syringes had been provided to all government hospitals.<\/p>\n \u201cThese syringes cannot be used more than once.\u201d<\/p>\n It said 82 cases were identified in April 2025 and 95 in August that year as a result of screening, and after necessary measures were taken, the case tally was recorded at four in December 2025.<\/p>\n The statement said the health department, along with the Healthcare Commission, had sealed 240 clinics run by quacks, and nine first information reports had been registered.<\/p>\n<\/a>Punjab health dept\u2019s rebuttal<\/h2>\n