A shocking Jharkhand hospital HIV case has rocked the state’s healthcare system after five children, including a seven-year-old boy, were found to have contracted HIV following blood transfusions at Sadar Hospital in Chaibasa, West Singhbhum district.
What began as a single suspected infected blood transfusion has spiralled into a full-blown public health crisis, raising urgent questions about blood safety in India and the effectiveness of government oversight in rural hospitals.
High Court Orders Urgent Investigation
Taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, the Jharkhand High Court has ordered an urgent probe into the Chaibasa hospital HIV scandal and sought a detailed report from the state health department. The court has directed officials to take strict accountability measures and prevent any further lapses.
Following the court’s directive, a high-level medical investigation team from Ranchi visited Chaibasa on Saturday to inspect the hospital’s blood bank and related facilities.
Five Thalassemia Patients Test HIV-Positive
During the inspection, the Ranchi medical team discovered that five children suffering from thalassemia, a condition requiring regular blood transfusions, had tested HIV-positive.
Initially, only one infection was confirmed, but four more cases surfaced as further screening continued. Officials have warned that the number could increase as more samples are tested.