# HIV scare at THQ Hospital Mian Channu: 69 dialysis patients being screened Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/health/hiv-scare-at-thq-hospital-mian-channu-69-dialysis-patients-being-screened) Type: News article Author: Searchable Editorial Published: 27 Sept 2026 Updated: 27 Sept 2026 Retrieved: 30 Sept 2026 > Reports of four to six HIV-positive dialysis patients in Khanewal district, one ELISA-positive so far by the hospital's count, and an inquiry under way. What patients should do now. Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital Mian Channu in Khanewal district is screening every patient on its dialysis ward after HIV-positive results among people who receive dialysis there. The district administration has formed an inquiry committee, and the hospital says nothing is confirmed until PCR tests from Multan come back. ## What has been reported so far The numbers differ depending on who is counting, and that matters for anyone on dialysis in Mian Channu: - **Dawn** reports that four dialysis patients, three of them women, tested positive and were referred to Nishtar Hospital Multan for evaluation and treatment. It says more than 60 patients were receiving dialysis at the facility. - **The Nation** reports that six patients showed positive results on initial tests at private laboratories, while government ELISA testing found one positive result. - **The hospital administration** denies that HIV has been confirmed in several patients. It says one patient screened positive on ELISA, that sample has gone to Multan for a confirmatory PCR test, and a diagnosis cannot be made until that report arrives. All three agree on the next step: the remaining 69 patients on the dialysis ward are being screened as a precaution. The hospital says it normally screens dialysis patients for HIV every six months. ## Who is investigating The district administration has set up an inquiry committee, headed by Dr Shafqat according to The Nation, which visited the hospital, questioned staff and is examining records and dialysis procedures. It is to submit a fact-based report on how the infections, if confirmed, happened. Hospital officials have said HIV is not transmitted through the dialysis process itself; in past outbreaks the suspected routes were reused or poorly sterilised equipment and lapses in infection control. ## Why this worries people in south Punjab This would not be the first time. In November 2024 around 30 kidney patients at Nishtar Hospital Multan contracted HIV during dialysis, and one died. A Punjab government fact-finding committee found violations of dialysis guidelines there, and in January 2025 the government ordered proceedings under the PEEDA Act against senior officials and staff. In March 2025, 106 children in Taunsa tested HIV positive. Each time, the first reports came from patients' families and private labs before official confirmation. ## If you or a relative gets dialysis at THQ Mian Channu 1. **Get tested.** Ask the dialysis ward for the screening now under way. A reactive ELISA or rapid test is a screening result, not a diagnosis; only a confirmatory test such as PCR settles it. 2. **Keep your own records.** Ask for copies of every test report, with dates and the lab name, and note the dates and machine or bay of each session. 3. **Do not stop dialysis.** Missing sessions is dangerous for kidney patients. If you are worried about a unit, ask your nephrologist about moving to another centre rather than skipping treatment. 4. **Ask about hepatitis too.** Dialysis units screen for hepatitis B and C for the same reason, so ask when your last results were taken. 5. **If a test is confirmed positive,** HIV treatment in Pakistan's public sector is free at government treatment centres; the hospital referred patients to Nishtar Hospital Multan. ## What happens next The PCR results from Multan and the committee's report are the two things to watch. We will update this story when the district administration or the Punjab health department confirms the numbers. For other health news from Punjab hospitals, see our report on [Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi's free cryoablation service](/news/health/holy-family-hospital-rawalpindi-starts-free-cryoablation-for-small-cancer). ## Frequently asked questions **How many dialysis patients at THQ Mian Channu have HIV?** Reports differ. Dawn reports four positive patients and The Nation six on initial private-lab tests; the hospital says one patient is ELISA-positive and awaits a confirmatory PCR test from Multan. All 69 other dialysis patients are being screened. **Is a positive ELISA test a confirmed HIV diagnosis?** No. ELISA and rapid tests are screening tests. A confirmatory test such as PCR is needed before a diagnosis is made. ## Sources - Four dialysis patients test positive for HIV at Mian Channu hospital (Dawn): https://www.dawn.com/news/2032880/four-dialysis-patients-test-positive-for-hiv-at-mian-channu-hospital - HIV tests turn positive among dialysis patients at THQ Hospital Mian Channu (The Nation): https://www.nation.com.pk/27-Sep-2026/hiv-tests-turn-positive-among-dialysis-patients-thq-hospital-mian-channu - Probe launched after HIV-positive test at THQ hospital (Daily Times): https://dailytimes.com.pk/1559021/probe-launched-after-hiv-positive-test-at-thq-hospital/ How to cite: "HIV scare at THQ Hospital Mian Channu: 69 dialysis patients being screened", Searchable, 27 Sept 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/health/hiv-scare-at-thq-hospital-mian-channu-69-dialysis-patients-being-screened