LAHORE: An inquiry committee constituted by the Nishtar Medical University & Hospital has found 10 doctors and hospital officials guilty of misconduct and violation of screening protocols in a case involving surgery on a patient who was later found to be HIV-positive, prompting disciplinary action by the Punjab government.
The inquiry report, sent by the vice chancellor to the Punjab Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department on May 22, recommended disciplinary proceedings against the officials under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (Peeda) Act 2006.
Acting on the inquiry findings, the Punjab health department suspended from service Senior Registrar (surgery) Dr Fareeha Ahmed, staff nurse Rida Zahra, Dr Shahbaz Anwar, Medical Officer Dr Muhammad Ali Jan and Dr Muhammad Naeem Akhtar with immediate effect. In addition, the government suspended the FCPS chemical pathology training of Dr Sania Saeed, MS general surgery training of Dr Irsa Arif and the FCPS orthopaedic surgery training of Dr Akhtar.
Action was also recommended against Dr Abuzer of the anaesthesia department and Dr Umer of pathology department. All the responsible officials were suspended on administrative grounds and directed to report to the Punjab Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department.
Recommends action under Peeda Act 2006
The inquiry report, available with Dawn, stated that the committee was constituted following allegations that a patient underwent surgery at the Nishtar Hospital without mandatory HIV screening protocols. The committee held several officials responsible for failing to communicate, upload, verify and act upon the patient’s HIV screening report before the surgery.
According to the report, Dr Fareeha was found responsible for failing to perform the mandatory post-operative round on May 19 and for not informing senior officials regarding the report in time. Nurse Rida Zahra was found responsible for failing to report the HIV findings to the authorities concerned, including the head nurse. Dr Anwar, demonstrator and admin registrar at Nishtar Lab, failed to coordinate with the surgical ward administration and failed to check the delay in uploading the HIV report on the hospital portal.
The inquiry report further stated that Dr Sania, also a pathology PGR, failed to timely communicate the HIV ELISA report to the surgical unit.
Dr Akhtar and surgery PGR Dr Irsa were accused of performing surgery without checking the mandatory checklist as per protocol.
The report also held Dr Muhammad Ali Jan, an anaesthesia medical officer, responsible for not checking the HIV report before administering anaesthesia induction.
Similarly, Dr Abuzer of the anaesthesia department was accused of conducting the preoperative ward round and declaring the patient fit for surgery without verifying the mandatory HIV report.
Dr Umer, a postgraduate resident (PGR) in the pathology department, was accused of failing to document the HIV report to the authorities concerned, not coordinating with the surgical ward administration and failing to upload the HIV report on the portal.
The incident had triggered concern among healthcare workers after the patient was reportedly operated upon before completion of mandatory HIV screening procedures, raising questions about compliance with infection-control protocols at the hospital.
Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said negligence in treatment and patient care at hospitals would not be tolerated, and strict action would be taken against those responsible.
This not the first case of HIV negligence. In late 2024, a major HIV outbreak occurred at the nephrology and dialysis unit of Nishtar Hospital, resulting in at least 25–30 patients contracting the virus. The outbreak triggered high-level government probes, suspensions of top hospital officials.
Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2026
