HIV patient surgery: Nishtar doctors defend procedure

MULTAN, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th May, 2026) The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Multan President and Head of Surgery at Nishtar Medical University, Professor Dr. Masood ul Rauf Hiraj, strongly defended the emergency surgery performed on an HIV-positive patient, insisting all standard operating procedures (SOPs) were strictly followed.

Speaking at a press conference at Nishtar Hospital on Monday, Dr. Hiraj challenged authorities to form an international expert committee to investigate the matter under global medical guidelines. "If even one percent negligence is proven, reinstate the suspended junior doctors and dismiss me instead," he declared.

The surgeon explained that according to international guidelines, HIV transmission risk in surgical settings is just three in a thousand cases, as the virus cannot survive long outside the human body. He added that proper sterilization of instruments after each procedure eliminates any risk of cross-infection, noting that Hepatitis B actually poses a greater transmission risk than HIV.

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Dr Hiraj warned that negative propaganda surrounding the case had already caused HIV patients to avoid seeking treatment. He also noted that his ward had been on call for 30 consecutive hours at the time of the operation and that an HIV test is not mandatory before emergency surgery.

PMA Multan General Secretary Dr. Imran Haider Qaisrani confirmed the patient had tested HIV-negative in a previous surgery, and that the emergency operation was performed last on the theatre list, with full sterilization carried out afterward. He categorically denied reports that 27 patients had been infected, calling the claim "an outright lie."

PMA Punjab Vice President Dr. Rizwan Sharif noted that the HIV virus was destroyed by sterilization and called for the establishment of infectious disease centres and HIV control units at district level across Punjab.

The PMA demanded immediate reinstatement of all suspended staff and reserved the right to pursue legal action against those spreading misinformation on media and social media platforms.