What happened
Sindh’s Labour Minister, Saeed Ghani, said on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, that the number of people diagnosed with HIV linked to an outbreak at Karachi’s Kulsum Bai Valika Hospital had risen to 120, and that cases would be registered against those found guilty of negligence, ABC News reported.
Speaking at a press conference at the Sindh Assembly’s committee room, Ghani said more than 10,500 people had been screened for the virus at the hospital and in the surrounding area. Of the 120 people who tested positive, 81 were registered beneficiaries of the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution, while the remaining 39 were not covered by the institution but were receiving free government treatment, he said. He added that infected children were being treated at five major hospitals across the country.
Ghani said about 2,000 people had also been screened at SESSI’s Landhi Hospital, of whom 10 were diagnosed as HIV-positive, and that the screening campaign would continue despite fears that more cases could emerge.
The response
The minister said all cases identified so far were linked to infections acquired before October 2025, and that no new outbreak case had been reported since. He rejected claims that the provincial government had been indifferent, saying it acted as soon as the cases surfaced in October last year, with the Health Department’s Communicable Disease Control team beginning screenings the day after the first cases were reported and an inquiry committee constituted within days.
According to Ghani, the initial inquiry confirmed HIV infection among 16 children and recorded two deaths, while a subsequent inquiry report identified 78 confirmed cases and six deaths. He said show-cause notices had been issued to 37 doctors and members of staff, and that those found responsible would face dismissal, first information reports and legal proceedings.
He said the Sindh government had established a 2 billion rupee endowment fund for the treatment and welfare of the infected children, and that the amount would be increased if required. He also said the identities of those infected would be kept confidential under the Sindh HIV and AIDS Control, Treatment and Protection Act 2013.
Asked about the disposal of medical waste, which he described as the major cause behind the outbreak, Ghani said clinical waste management operated under the Sindh Hospital Waste Management Rules but that some individuals had refused to comply for personal gain, and that punitive measures were under way.
Concern beyond one hospital
At the same briefing, Dr Abdul Bari Khan, founder of the Indus Hospital and Health Network, said the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C in Pakistan remained a matter of grave concern and called for coordinated efforts by government and healthcare institutions. Dr Faisal Mahmood, an infectious disease specialist and associate chief medical officer at Aga Khan University Hospital, said the problem was not confined to a single hospital or locality and called for stricter infection prevention and control protocols across all facilities, including private clinics.
What is still uncertain
The article did not state how many of the 120 cases involved children, nor how the announced legal action would proceed. It also did not give a timeline for concluding disciplinary proceedings against the 37 staff members who received show-cause notices.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a summary of published reporting, not independent reporting. Details are as carried by the cited sources, which were reviewed on 2026-07-14.
- ABC News (Pakistan) — "Saeed Ghani confirms 120 HIV cases linked to Karachi's Valika Hospital"14 July 2026 · The updated case count, screening figures, SESSI and Landhi Hospital numbers, the October 2025 timeline, inquiry findings, show-cause notices, the endowment fund and the comments by Dr Abdul Bari Khan and Dr Faisal Mahmood.
- The Express Tribune — "Sindh sets up Rs2b fund for HIV-affected children"Background on the Sindh government's fund for children affected by the outbreak.
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