Pakistan’s Sindh Healthcare Commission says an inspection at Valika Hospital in Karachi found unsafe practices related to medical waste handling and infection prevention and control. The hospital has been at the centre of an HIV outbreak in which, according to reporting cited by outlets, 78 children are confirmed to be infected, with additional cases detected through area screening.
During the commission’s visit, inspectors reported that used syringe needles were manually removed after use and were not found placed in sharps bins. Commission officials said staff could not explain where the removed needles went or how they were ultimately disposed of. Inspectors also said medical waste was not being segregated and handled according to infection-prevention guidelines, and that staff had limited knowledge of safe waste management.
The commission further reported gaps in infection-control readiness, including a lack of formal IPC training, absence of written IPC guidelines or policies for inspection, and difficulty verifying key equipment such as an autoclave. It also said operation theatre practices were not properly followed and that coordination between management and nursing staff appeared weak. Both outlets say the commission plans to submit a detailed report and seek corrective action.
