What the probe into Madhya Pradesh HIV-thalassemia scandal has found so far

A state-level inquiry team constituted by the Madhya Pradesh government to probe how five children with thalassemia contracted HIV during blood transfusions has found major lapses – right from maintaining a record of donors to failing to conduct HIV tests properly.

According to the preliminary report submitted by the inquiry team, serious irregularities were found at the blood centre.

These included “failure to properly maintain records of blood donors, non-maintenance of company details and batch numbers of the kits used for blood testing, and failure to properly conduct HIV and other mandatory tests on blood prior to transfusion to children”.

Senior staff of the Satna district hospital who have been named in the report, along with their alleged role.

Dr Manoj Shukla, former civil surgeon-cum-chief hospital superintendent

Shukla has been issued a show-cause notice to explain his conduct, failing which he faces disciplinary action under the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1968.

The inquiry team found that during Shukla’s posting as Civil Surgeon at District Hospital, Satna, he “did not carry out inspections of the blood centre, despite it being your responsibility to periodically inspect the blood centre…”

It was also his “duty to ensure proper testing of donor blood and proper maintenance of all mandatory records, which was not done”. The team has said Shukla “grossly violated” his official duties and responsibilities.

Shukla had told that the nodal officers belonging to the local aids control society had not informed his office about the HIV infection.

Dr Devendra Patel, pathology specialist, and in charge of the Satna district hospital blood bank

Patel was placed under suspension by the state government on Thursday.

As per the inquiry team, his “responsibility was ensuring the smooth functioning of the blood bank”.

However, these responsibilities were “not discharged, amounting to a gross violation of official duties”, the report states.

According to his suspension order, Patel has been transferred to the Office of the Regional Director, Health Services, Jabalpur Division.

Patel had said all blood samples were tested with the most advanced CLIA (Chemiluminescence Immunoassay) machine and tested negative for HIV at the time of donation.

Rambhai Tripathi, lab technician

His responsibility was to ensure proper testing of donor blood and maintenance of mandatory records. However, blood was “transfused to children without duly conducting HIV and other required tests”.

Nandlal Pandey, lab technician

As per the probe report, he “failed to conduct proper testing of donor blood in accordance with rules and guidelines. He also failed to maintain mandatory records. “Moreover, blood was transfused to children without duly conducting HIV and other required tests,” the committee submitted.

Multiple teams from the state and central health departments are probing the case. A National AIDS Control Organisation team will arrive in Satna on Friday night.

The probe team is analysing the tracking of nearly 200 blood donors, blood transfusion procedures, verified compliances and a list of private nursing homes where blood transfusions are carried out.