BAHAWALPUR/LAHORE: The chief minister has issued an order to initiate proceeding under the Peeda Act against Nishtar Medical University Vice Chancellor Dr Mehnaz Khakwani, four doctors and a staff nurse holding them negligent in the incident of outbreak of HIV/AIDS at Nishtar Hospital, Multan.

The CM constituted joint inquiry committee consisting secretary transport Punjab Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi, and special secretary health department Amannullah and directed them to finalize the probe within 60 days and submit findings.

The other employers of the hospital facing proceedings included head of nephrology department Prof Ghulam Abbas, additional principal officer of NMU Dr Mohammad Kazim, associate professor Dr Poonam Khalid, assistant professor Dr Alamgir Malik and head nurse Naheed Parveen.

They all were held responsible of the mismanagement and negligence due to which the nearly 25 kidney failure patients carried AIDs during dialysis treatment at the nephrology ward of the Nishtar Hospital Multan. The government has also asked the committee to complete inquiry and submit recommendations within 60 days to forward the same to the chief minister.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2025