HIV-Infected Blood Transfusion Exposes Lapses in Chaibasa Sadar Hospital
Key Points:
- Six thalassemia patients found HIV positive after blood transfusion
- Health department forms probe panel; report due within seven days
- Chief Minister announces ₹2 lakh aid for affected families
CHAIBASA – Six thalassemia-affected children in Chaibasa were diagnosed HIV positive after allegedly receiving infected blood from the district hospital.
The shocking case surfaced when a seven-year-old child, treated at Chaibasa Sadar Hospital, tested positive for HIV. Further investigation revealed that five other children who regularly received blood from the same hospital were also infected.
According to sources, the hospital’s blood bank failed to properly screen blood units. Consequently, infected blood was supplied to multiple young patients. However, the administration has ordered a thorough probe into the matter.
A special health department team from Ranchi reached Chaibasa and inspected the blood bank’s functioning, including screening kits and storage systems. The team observed major protocol breaches and said, “Such a grave incident reflects a total failure in safety procedures.”
Meanwhile, the district administration has formed a high-level inquiry committee. The panel has been asked to submit its report within seven days. Chief Minister Hemant Soren termed the incident “deeply distressing” and announced ₹2 lakh compensation for each affected family.
In addition, the Chief Minister directed the health department to audit all blood banks in Jharkhand and submit a report within five days. He warned that negligence in medical safety would not be tolerated.
