MP: Doctor, 2 lab technicians suspended after 6 Thalassemic children test HIV positive

Satna: Days after six Thalassemic children at Madhya Pradesh's Satna district hospital tested positive for HIV, the government has suspended a senior doctor and two lab technicians, and issued a show-cause notice to the Chief Health and Medical Officer, while a senior surgeon has been asked to submit a written explanation.

Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, who is also the state health minister, told IANS on Friday that action has been taken on the basis of an investigation by a three-member committee of senior officials, including an IAS officer.

Also Read:MP: Six thalassaemia children test HIV-positive after blood transfusions

The committee submitted its findings to the government late on Thursday, Shukla added.

The inquiry committee has indicated that the children might have been infected with HIV from blood donors, who were possibly the family members or relatives of Thalassaemic children and were treated at the hospital.

The committee has recommended tracing the blood donors, which seems a challenging task for the Satna district administration. With blood sourced from multiple facilities over a long period, identifying which donor supplied which unit -- whether any were HIV positive -- has become a daunting exercise.

Dy CM and Health Minister Shukla said the multiple departments, including the police, will be involved to trace those donors.

Satna district administration on Thursday initiated action against an illegal blood brokerage ring and arrested three persons operating around the district hospital, which is named after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, reports IANS.

A police officer identified the accused as Ranjeet Sahu, Mohammad Kaif and Anil Gupta. Police were investigating whether any staff member of the hospital's blood bank was involved in this trade, a police official said.

Notably, in a shocking revelation, six children treated at the hospital for thalassemia -- which requires periodic blood transfusion -- were found on December 16 to have contracted HIV after receiving contaminated blood.

Also Read:World AIDS Day 2025: Union Minister JP Nadda to lead National Event