ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the immediate suspension of eight officials, including the Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), and action under criminal law following the deaths of 14 newborns in a fire at the hospital’s gynaecology ward on Wednesday.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister in Lahore, where the interim report of the inquiry committee into the PIMS fire tragedy was presented, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said.
According to the statement, the eight officials include PIMS Executive Director Prof Dr Imran Sikandar, Joint Executive Directors Dr Mutahir Shah and Dr Owais Ali Shah, Head of the Neonatal Department Prof Dr Sadia Riaz, Senior Registrar Dr Nagham, Dr Naushila Amjad, Assistant Director Security PIMS Muhammad Usman and CDA Emergency Service Director General Dr Abdul Rehman.
The prime minister directed that action be taken against those found responsible not only under departmental rules but also under criminal law.
Dr Muhammad Salman, CEO of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was directed to be appointed as acting executive director of PIMS.
He also ordered action against the security company deployed at the hospital and its officials. He directed that the officials removed from their posts be replaced immediately and in one go by new appointees.
Prime Minister Shehbaz approved the award of Sitara-i-Khidmat to the nurse who risked her life to rescue a newborn during the fire.
He also directed that the nurse and a female security guard who were present in the ward be made Officers on Special Duty (OSD) and that further investigation be conducted.
He further directed that the interim inquiry report be made public immediately and uploaded to the Ministry of National Health Services’ website.
“People who are guilty of criminal negligence do not deserve any concession,” the prime minister said, adding that those responsible would be brought to justice.
“People who are guilty of criminal negligence do not deserve any concession,” the prime minister said, adding that those responsible would be brought to justice.
He said the deaths of innocent newborns were a tragic incident that had saddened the entire nation and expressed sympathy with the bereaved families.
“The responsible persons will be given exemplary punishment so that no one’s life is separated from their mother due to someone’s criminal negligence again,” he said.
What was found in investigation?
The investigation committee presented its initial findings and showed two minutes of CCTV footage of the incident during the meeting.
According to the briefing, PIMS had no detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) or adequate training for fire and emergencies. Only two of the hospital’s 13 SOP sections contained provisions relating to fire or emergencies.
The inquiry found that supervisory staff were not on duty when the fire broke out. Two nurses, a female security guard and a house officer were present in the ward at the time.
The meeting was told that the fire took just two minutes to break out and engulfed the entire ward to burn down. “One nurse risked her life to rescue a newborn before the flames spread through the ward,” the committee said.
The briefing revealed that emergency services were called six minutes after the fire started, while the first emergency response reached the site 15 minutes after the incident.
The committee was also informed that a fire had broken out at the PIMS nursing hostel in July, but adequate safety measures were not subsequently implemented.
The neonatal ward had no fire alarm or sprinkler system, while the inquiry found violations of relevant World Health Organization (WHO) safety standards.
The briefing further stated that PIMS had no dedicated officer responsible for dealing with emergencies such as fires, with the assistant director given the additional responsibility. The meeting was also briefed on the dilapidated condition and mismanagement of the hospital.
The Prime Minister thanked the Chairman of the Investigation Committee, Shahid Khan, and all the members, and directed them to complete the investigation and submit a more detailed report.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Syed Mustafa Kamal, Chairman of the Committee, Shahid Khan, members Barrister Nabeel Awan, Major General (retd) Khurshid Utara, and senior officials concerned.
