4 tested HIV+ after blood transfusion: Assam gets NHRC notice

National Human Rights Commission today sought a report from the Assam government on allegations of HIV infected blood transfusion in a state-run hospital.
Taking a suo motu cognisance of media reports that four persons had tested HIV positive after blood transfusion at district hospital in Mangaldoi in Assam due to negligence of hospital authorities, the rights body issued a notice to the state Chief Secretary, an NHRC statement said.
"The investigation revealed that the four patients, who tested HIV positive, had taken blood directly from the donors which was transfused to them by the concerned hospital staff without proper test," the statement said.

The Chief Secretary has been given four weeks time to file a report in this case. He has also been directed to inform the name of the victims, the status of their health and the amount of compensation, if any, being proposed to be paid to them as compensation along with the report with regard to disciplinary action, if any, initiated against the delinquent public servants, the statement said.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the patients.
Reportedly, a section of the hospital staff was hand-in- glove with the illegal professional donors and three officials, including a government doctor, had been put under suspension, the statement said.