Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has initiated an immediate inquiry following reports that several children with thalassaemia received blood transfusions contaminated with HIV at Chaibasa Sadar Hospital in West Singhbhum district. This issue came to light when a seven-year-old child tested positive for HIV, prompting the Jharkhand High Court to take notice.
In a statement on social media, Chief Minister Soren announced that each affected family would receive Rs 2 lakh in compensation, and the state government would cover all treatment expenses for the victims. Calling the incident “deeply distressing,” he demanded a comprehensive audit of all blood banks in the state within five days.
In response to the crisis, Chief Minister Soren ordered the suspension of the civil surgeon and several hospital officials. Affected families will be compensated with Rs 2 lakh each, and the state government will fund the treatment of all victims. He also directed the health department to conduct a thorough examination of all blood banks statewide within a five-day timeframe, emphasizing zero tolerance for health protocol violations.
The case surfaced when a seven-year-old patient tested positive for HIV after a blood transfusion. The Jharkhand High Court took suo motu cognisance and requested a detailed report from the state’s Chief Secretary due to the severity of the situation.
Initial investigations initially indicated one affected child, but a team led by Dr Dinesh Kumar from Ranchi found five children had contracted HIV after an unannounced inspection of the hospital’s blood bank and paediatric ward.
Local families and representatives have expressed serious concerns, with the child’s family filing complaints with authorities and a council member alleging personal animosity from a blood bank staff member as a possible factor.
Serious deficiencies in the blood bank were discovered during the investigation, including inadequate storage, testing, and distribution of blood units. The state health directorate has restricted the blood bank to emergency services for a few days to rectify the issues and given the hospital a week to address all concerns.
While the source of infection remains uncertain, Civil Surgeon Majhee mentioned that investigations are ongoing to determine if the infection stemmed from the hospital’s blood supply or other factors like contaminated needles.
Administrative actions are being taken against officials and staff, with the government stressing accountability for any negligence. The health department’s investigation continues, with officials cautioning that more unsettling revelations may unfold soon.