Hospital at Centre of Child HIV Outbreak Found Reusing Syringes in Undercover Investigation

A hospital linked to a child HIV outbreak has been found reusing syringes and failing to follow basic infection control standards, according to an undercover investigation by the BBC.

The investigation focused on a government hospital children’s ward in Pakistan, where journalists secretly filmed medical staff repeatedly reusing syringes on young patients, raising serious concerns about unsafe medical practices.

The hospital had been at the centre of a wider HIV outbreak affecting children in the region, where dozens of cases were linked to unsafe medical procedures. Health experts say such outbreaks in Pakistan have previously been associated with the reuse of needles, unsterilised equipment, and weak infection control systems.

Undercover footage reportedly showed practices that could allow blood-borne infections to spread rapidly between patients, particularly in crowded and under-resourced public hospitals. The investigation highlighted that basic hygiene protocols, including safe disposal of syringes, were not being properly followed.

The findings have raised urgent concerns among health officials and international observers about patient safety, especially for children receiving routine treatment in public healthcare facilities.

Authorities are expected to review the hospital’s practices and investigate how such violations occurred, while public health experts warn that poor infection control could continue to fuel similar outbreaks if not urgently addressed.