Hospital at centre of child HIV outbreak caught reusing syringes in undercover filming
Hospital at Centre of Child HIV Outbreak Caught Reusing Syringes in Undercover Filming
At age eight, Mohammed Amin passed away just weeks after his HIV diagnosis. His fevers were severe enough that he preferred to sleep outdoors in the rain, according to his mother, Sughra. “He used to fight with me, but he also loved me,” says Asma, a ten-year-old girl, as she kneels by her younger brother’s grave. Shortly after her brother’s infection, Asma herself was diagnosed with HIV. Their family attributes both cases to contaminated needles used during routine treatments at THQ Taunsa Hospital, a government facility in Punjab, Pakistan.
331 Children Affected in Taunsa
According to BBC Eye, 331 children in Taunsa tested positive for HIV between November 2024 and October 2025. A doctor at a private clinic linked the outbreak to THQ Taunsa in late 2024, prompting local authorities to pledge a “massive crackdown” and suspend the hospital’s medical superintendent in March 2025. However, the BBC investigation reveals that unsafe practices persisted months after the suspension.
Undercover Evidence of Reused Syringes
During 32 hours of covert filming at THQ Taunsa in late 2025, staff were observed reusing syringes on multiple doses of medication on ten occasions. In four instances, the same vial was administered to different children. While it remains unclear if any of the affected children were already HIV-positive, the risk of viral spread is evident. “Even with a new needle, the syringe body retains the virus, allowing transmission,” explains Dr Altaf Ahmed, a microbiology consultant and infectious disease expert in Pakistan.
Despite visible signs of proper injection techniques, the footage shows 66 instances where medical personnel, including a doctor, injected patients without sterile gloves. Another expert notes that the footage exposes systemic gaps in infection control training across Pakistan. A nurse is also seen retrieving used needles from a waste bin without protective gear.
Response from Hospital Leadership
When confronted with the footage, Dr Qasim Buzdar, the hospital’s new medical superintendent, questioned its authenticity. He suggested it could have been recorded before his tenure or “staged,” asserting his facility is safe for pediatric care.
Early Detection by Private Clinic
Dr Gul Qaisrani, a local private clinic physician, first identified the outbreak in late 2024 after noticing an increase in HIV-positive children. He claims 65 to 70 of the diagnosed cases originated from THQ Taunsa. One mother reported her daughter receiving a syringe previously used on an HIV-positive cousin, while another father said he raised concerns about syringe reuse but was dismissed by staff.
Government Intervention and Continuing Concerns
The Punjab government acknowledged 106 cases in March 2025, leading to Dr Tayyab Farooq Chandio’s suspension as medical superintendent. However, BBC Eye discovered that Chandio resumed work at a rural health centre within three months. In an interview, he claimed to have taken “immediate” steps after learning of the first HIV-positive case but insisted the hospital was not the outbreak’s origin. Chandio was later replaced by Buzdar.
Punjab’s Aids screening data indicates that over half of the 331 cases were associated with “contaminated needle” transmission. In Asma’s case, the mode is listed as such, while the method for the remaining cases is unspecified. The mother and father of Mohammed Amin and Asma tested negative for HIV, with the father having passed away two years prior in a road accident.
