KARACHI: The Sindh government has approved a Rs2 billion endowment fund to provide long-term medical treatment, rehabilitation and welfare support for the 78 children confirmed to have contracted HIV at Karachi's Sindh Employees' Social Security Institution (SESSI)-run Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital, marking the most significant relief package announced since the outbreak came to light.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the SESSI Governing Body (GB) chaired by Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani, where members unanimously endorsed the creation of the fund to ensure that affected children continue receiving the highest possible standard of medical care while also supporting their families in the years ahead.
The announcement comes just days after the Sindh government officially confirmed that 78 children had tested positive for HIV in connection with the outbreak at Valika Hospital. The confirmation followed widespread public concern and legal proceedings after a petition filed before the Sindh High Court (SHC) alleged that contaminated syringes had infected children receiving treatment at the hospital. While the petitioner claimed around 200 children had been affected, the provincial government has maintained that 78 confirmed cases have so far been identified through official screening.
Alongside the financial package, the SESSI Governing Body also endorsed departmental action against 37 doctors and paramedical staff, approving their suspensions and the issuance of show-cause notices following an inquiry conducted in compliance with directions issued by the Provincial Ombudsman.
The disciplinary action follows an official inquiry that allegedly found negligence in connection with the outbreak. Earlier this week, SESSI suspended two doctors and a hospital dispenser while issuing notices to dozens of other employees as investigations into the incident intensified.
Addressing the meeting, Labour Minister Saeed Ghani said the inquiry would remain transparent and warned that no individual found responsible would receive any concession regardless of rank or position. He recalled that an inquiry committee had been constituted immediately after the first report of the incident emerged in October 2025, when only a limited number of HIV cases had been detected.
According to the minister, the government subsequently ordered screening of all potentially affected children, resulting in the confirmation of 78 HIV infections. Investigators have now also been tasked with determining whether the infections occurred during the relevant treatment period or whether some cases may have originated earlier, while examining the role of all doctors, paramedical staff and officials who were on duty when the alleged incidents took place.
The minister described the outbreak as a major tragedy and reiterated that the Sindh government would continue supporting the affected children throughout their treatment. He said the newly approved endowment fund is intended to provide not only lifelong access to medical care but also broader welfare assistance for the children and their families as they cope with the long-term consequences of HIV infection.
The case has also drawn judicial attention. On July 2, a division bench of the Sindh High Court directed the provincial government to explain the HIV outbreak within two weeks while hearing a constitutional petition seeking an independent inquiry, criminal proceedings against those responsible, lifelong treatment and compensation for the affected children.
The outbreak has renewed scrutiny of infection prevention and control practices, safe injection procedures and patient safety standards in healthcare facilities across Pakistan. Public health experts have repeatedly emphasized that strict sterilization protocols, proper use of disposable syringes and robust infection control systems are essential to preventing healthcare-associated infections, particularly among vulnerable pediatric patients.
While the establishment of the Rs2 billion endowment fund offers reassurance that the affected children will receive long-term medical support, the broader investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have yet to announce whether criminal proceedings will follow against those ultimately found responsible, making the coming weeks critical for both accountability and justice in one of Pakistan's most serious healthcare-related HIV outbreaks.
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