#Breaking News: Jharkhand CM Orders Statewide Blood Bank Audit After Kids Get HIV

Chief Minister Hemant Soren has ordered an urgent audit of all blood banks in Jharkhand after five thalassemia children tested HIV positive following blood transfusions at Sadar Hospital, Chaibasa. The CM directed the Health Department to submit a comprehensive report within 5 days, warning that “poor healthcare systems will not be tolerated under any circumstances.”

Taking swift action, Soren suspended the Civil Surgeon and Medical Officer responsible and announced ₹2 lakh financial aid per family along with free lifelong treatment for the affected children. He posted on X:“The infection of children in Chaibasa is extremely painful. Health Minister @IrfanAnsariMLA, please take note.”The scandal surfaced after a child’s family filed a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner.

The Jharkhand High Court took suo motu cognizance, ordering an immediate probe and strict accountability. A high-level team from Ranchi inspected the hospital on Saturday, uncovering four additional HIV-positive cases—raising the total to nine. The team found serious lapses in blood screening, storage, and supervision.

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A six-member expert panel, led by Special Secretary Dr. Neha Arora, has been formed to investigate the entire transfusion chain—from donor screening to lab protocols. The team will recommend technical and administrative reforms to prevent future negligence. Preliminary findings point to faulty testing kits, lack of oversight, and procedural violations.

As outrage grows, the government faces mounting pressure to overhaul blood safety standards across Jharkhand’s hospitals. The incident has exposed systemic failures that turned routine treatment into a life-threatening tragedy for innocent children.

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