UP Hospital Rejects Report On HIV Infections In Thalassemia Child Patients

A political storm has erupted in Uttar Pradesh over a news report that said 14 children suffering from Thalassemia had tested positive for serious infections during screening at a Kanpur hospital. The hospital's top authority has trashed the report, saying a probe has been ordered against a doctor for allegedly spreading rumours.

A Hindustan Times report had said 14 children suffering from Thalassemia had tested positive for infections such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV during a screening at Kanpur's Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital. The report quoted Dr Arun Kumar Arya, head of the paediatrics department, as saying that this is a cause for concern and that the HIV infections were particularly worrying.

The report prompted a sharp attack by Opposition leaders on the Yogi Adityanath government.

Targeting the ruling BJP, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the "double-engine" government has made health infrastructure "doubly sick". "Double engine" government is a term frequently used by BJP leaders in their poll campaigns to refer to the twin advantage of having a BJP government at both the state and the centre level.

The Congress chief said in a post on X that this gross negligence is "shameful". "Innocent children are facing punishment for this unforgivable crime of the BJP government," he said.

Samajwadi Party, the main Opposition in Uttar Pradesh, said no one is watching the health services in the state. Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the matter should be immediately probed and those responsible should be punished. The party's official handle blamed the state health department and minister Brijesh Pathak.

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder due to which the body doesn't make enough haemoglobin. Patients suffering from this condition need frequent blood transfusions.

Soon after, Mr Arya clarified in a video statement that the infections took place over a period of at least eight years.

"Children suffering from Thalassemia need blood transfusions every three-four weeks. Blood transfusions come with risks of HIV, malaria, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and malaria infections. We get a routine check-up of these children done every three-six months to detect any case of infection. This data covers a period of 10 years, it is not that these infections happened in six months," he said.

The senior doctor also said the hospital has a system in place to prevent infections during blood transfusions. "These children also get blood transfusions at other health facilities if there is an urgent requirement. We cannot say when they were infected," he added.

Now, the principal of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College, under which the hospital operaties, has rejected the report. Principal Dr Sanjay Kala has said the hospital has not reported HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infections in any Thalassemia patient after 2019. "We have ordered an investigation against Dr Arun Kumar Arya for making incorrect statements," Dr Kala said.