KARACHI: The provincial health department on Tuesday informed the Sindh High Court that following an HIV outbreak in children at the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI)-run Valika Hospital, it had taken “all necessary public health interventions” to control further spread of the contagious virus.
A report filed on the behalf of the provincial health secretary before a two-judge constitutional bench headed by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon said that a comprehensive network comprising 44 Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) centres had been set up across Sindh to stop the HIV spread under its Communicable Disease Control (CDC) programme.
Citing chief secretary, secretary of health, SESSI, medical superintendent of the hospital, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, inspector general of police, Sindh Child Protection Authority and others as respondents, Advocate Tariq Mansoor had petitioned the SHC in May seeking an independent inquiry, registration of a case and lifelong medical treatment as well as appropriate compensation for the affected children.
At the last hearing, the SHC had directed the health secretary and IGP to file detailed reports while a provincial law officer had sought more time to file comments on behalf of respondents.
Health dept distances itself from HIV outbreak at SESSI-run Valika Hospital
When the bench took up the matter for hearing on Tuesday, the director general of the Sindh health department filed a report, stating that the Valika Hospital was administratively controlled and managed by SESSI, which falls under the labour & human resources department.
It also stated that the CDC programme was operating under the health department and since its inception a comprehensive network of 44 ART centres had been established across the province to stop spread of HIV/AIDS by providing accessible testing, free treatment, public education and advocacy to combat social stigma.
The reply further maintained that upon receipt of information from Valika Hospital about HIV positive paediatric cases, an ART centre was set up on Oct 27, 2025 at the medical facility under the CED programme and 10,474 screenings had been conducted and 120 HIV cases were detected and all diagnosed patients were enrolled for medical treatment and they were receiving free-of-cost antiretroviral therapy, counselling and follow-up care.
It also informed the SHC that the Sindh Healthcare Commission had also conducted inspections in November and March and furnished a detailed report highlighting various deficiencies found in infection prevention and control (IPC) and general administration of the hospital and recommended necessary corrective measures to avoid recurrence of any such untoward incident in future.
“However, the report clearly specifies use of auto-lock syringes in the hospital,” it added.
The health department further stated that it had duly discharged its statutory and public health responsibilities by providing technical support, disease surveillance, screening, free treatment and prevention from further spread of contagious disease.
It also argued that the health department had taken all necessary public health interventions falling within its domain to control further dissemination of HIV and to provide better treatment to patients while issues related to hospital administration came within the domain of SESSI, labour department.
Pursuant to recommendations of an inquiry committee constituted under the directive of provincial ombudsman, the report further said that the labour department had suspended services of 37 responsible officers and issued show-cause notices to all concerned, and departmental proceedings had accordingly been initiated and presently underway.
“Subject to the outcome of the departmental proceedings, the persons found responsible for commission of any offence under the Sindh Regulation and Control of Disposable Syringes Act, 2010 as well as any other applicable law for the time being in force, Respondent No. 3 [health department] shall proceed in accordance with Section 7 of the Act,” it added.
The health department also maintained that upon conclusion of such proceedings, a formal complaint would be filed before the competent court against the officials found accountable as well as to take further action as may be warranted under the applicable laws.
After taking the report on record, the bench directed the IGP and other respondents to file comments till Aug 11.
Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2026
