Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday once again ordered strict action against officials found guilty of criminal negligence in the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) fire incident, saying no leniency would be shown to those responsible for the tragedy.<\/p>\n
On Aug 26,\u00a014 newborn babies were killed\u00a0after a fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital at PIMS in Islamabad, triggering widespread outrage and demands from people and political parties for action against those responsible.<\/p>\n
After an inquiry committee presented its interim report, the prime minister approved the immediate suspension of eight officials and ordered departmental as well as criminal proceedings against those identified as responsible.<\/p>\n
Read:\u00a0IHC orders report on PIMS tragedy<\/p>\n
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister\u2019s Office, immediately after returning from Kyrgyzstan, the prime minister chaired an emergency meeting on matters relating to the Ministry of Health and the PIMS fire incident.<\/p>\n
The meeting was briefed on matters concerning the health sector, while a special briefing was given on the ongoing investigation into the PIMS fire.<\/p>\n
It was informed that, in light of the interim investigative report, implementation of the prime minister\u2019s decisions was being ensured.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo leniency will be shown to officials guilty of criminal negligence,\u201d the PM Office quoted the prime minister as saying.<\/p>\n
He also directed the health minister and health secretary to ensure their personal presence at PIMS on alternate days and oversee, under their supervision, the implementation of measures for the hospital\u2019s improvement.<\/p>\n
The prime minister further directed that treatment facilities at PIMS be improved and all safety measures implemented. He also ordered that the process of reforms in the health sector be accelerated.<\/p>\n
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Health Secretary Capt (retd) Muhammad Mahmood and PIMS Executive Director Dr Muhammad Salman.<\/p>\n
Inquiry findings<\/p>\n
The incident sparked nationwide outrage after 14 newborns were killed, with only one newborn girl among those inside the ward rescued alive.<\/p>\n
The tragedy prompted immediate action from the federal government, with PM Shehbaz forming a five-member inquiry committee. The committee\u2019s interim report highlighted several deficiencies at the hospital and recommended action against eight individuals.<\/p>\n
Those identified by the committee and suspended on the prime minister\u2019s orders 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 registrars Dr Naghma and Dr Nousheela Amjad, PIMS Assistant Director Security Mohammad Usman and Capital Development Authority Emergency Services Director General Dr Abdul Rehman.<\/p>\n
Also Read:\u00a0Judicial commission may be formed if PIMS probe fails to satisfy: Mustafa Kamal<\/p>\n
The interim report said the precise source of ignition had not yet been \u201cconclusively established\u201d, adding that various accounts had attributed the fire to an air conditioner, an incubator or warmer, or an electrical short circuit or overloaded plug.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccordingly, an internal electrical\/equipment-related origin remains plausible, but it would be premature to identify any particular appliance or component as the established cause,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n
The report said the Capital Emergency Services (CES) had separately found fire and life-safety arrangements to be inadequate and compromised.<\/p>\n
It said emergency exits and escape routes were locked or obstructed, security personnel hindered aspects of the initial response, and crowd management was inadequate. According to the CES account, firefighters had to forcibly open locked fire-exit doors and other access points.<\/p>\n
The committee recommended that smoke and heat detection systems, alarms, fire extinguishers, hydrants, emergency lighting, electrical protection systems and all designated fire exits be physically inspected, tested and documented.<\/p>\n
It said any mandatory emergency exit found locked, obstructed or incapable of being opened immediately during an emergency should be rectified without delay.<\/p>\n
Read More:\u00a0The PIMS fire and the failures behind it: What the interim inquiry report says<\/p>\n
At the same time, legitimate controlled access to sensitive neonatal areas should be maintained through fire-safe arrangements, the report recommended.<\/p>\n
The committee also recommended an urgent technical inspection of all incubators, warmers, air-conditioning and IVAC installations, sockets, plugs, distribution boards, circuit breakers, earthing and other safety-critical electrical systems in high-risk clinical areas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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