Jharkhand: 6-member panel formed to probe HIV cases among thalassemia children in Singhbhum

Ranchi — A major health scandal has erupted in Jharkhand after several thalassemia-affected children tested HIV-positive following blood transfusions at Chaibasa Sadar Hospital in West Singhbhum district. The shocking revelation has triggered public outrage and raised serious questions about lapses in the state’s healthcare system.

In response, the Health Department has constituted a six-member committee to investigate the incident in detail. The panel, headed by Dr. Neha Arora, Special Secretary of the department, will examine every stage of the blood management process — from collection and testing to storage and transfusion — at the hospital’s blood bank.

Other members of the committee include Dr. Siddharth Sanyal, Director of Health Services; Dr. S.K. Singh, Director of Medical Education; Dr. Sushma Kumari, in charge of the RIMS blood bank; Ritu Sahay, Joint Director of the Drug Control Directorate; and Dr. Amarendra Kumar. The team has been asked to submit its report within seven days.

Earlier, Chief Minister Hemant Soren suspended Dr. Sushanto Kumar Majhi, the Civil Surgeon of Chaibasa, with immediate effect, holding him responsible for the grave negligence that endangered lives.

The Jharkhand High Court has also taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and directed a separate probe. A five-member team led by Dr. Dinesh Kumar, Director of Health Services, has inspected the hospital’s blood bank, laboratory, and pediatric intensive care unit.

Preliminary findings point to serious irregularities in blood screening and record-keeping, which may have caused the contamination. At least seven thalassemia patients are suspected to have contracted HIV due to transfused infected blood.

The government has announced ?2 lakh compensation for each affected family and assured that the state will bear the cost of all further treatment. CM Soren called the incident “extremely painful and unacceptable,” promising strict punitive action against those responsible.

Additionally, the Health Department has directed an immediate statewide audit of all blood banks, with reports due within five days.

With inputs from IANS