The Multan police have identified 30-35 individuals, including staff from Nishtar Hospital, involved in allegedly tampering with records of kidney patients who tested positive for HIV/AIDS. However, police clarified they lack jurisdiction to investigate healthcare professionals.
The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has expressed support for medical staff, including the Nishtar Medical University (NMU) vice-chancellor, suspended over negligence that led to dozens of kidney patients contracting HIV at the hospital.
Acting on Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s directive following the nephrology unit scandal, police investigated forgery in test reports. An official stated the findings would be submitted to the health department for further action, as the police’s mandate was limited to record tampering.
The investigation revealed private labs manipulated dialysis patient records to produce backdated test results. A hospital employee allegedly ran a private dialysis center, misusing test kits supplied to Nishtar Hospital.
Police identified approximately 30-35 individuals, including hospital staff, responsible for fabricating reports of patients who contracted HIV due to medical negligence. The probe was supervised by an SSP.
The PMA condemned the government’s actions against the NMU leadership and healthcare professionals. During a press conference, PMA leaders, including Prof. Ashraf Nizami and Dr. Kamran Saeed, termed the suspensions of senior medics illegal and called the fact-finding inquiry flawed and incomplete.
The PMA also criticized the Punjab Aids Control Programme’s guidelines and accused the health department and bureaucracy of mishandling the matter, claiming the chief minister was misinformed. They announced plans to engage PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif for intervention and urged the Punjab governor to reject the NMU VC’s resignation.
