Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has called for a thorough investigation into the deaths of 14 infants in a recent fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Nursery. Under the chairmanship of Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, the committee visited PIMS to assess the situation and pledged to hold accountable those responsible for the tragedy.

According to Senate of Pakistan, the committee reviewed the medical care and fire safety measures at PIMS, highlighting administrative deficiencies and the need for improvements to prevent future incidents. The committee members, including Senators Syed Masroor Ahsan, Rubina Khalid, Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto, and Nasir Mehmood, raised concerns over the absence of fire alarms and obstructed emergency exits. They directed the PIMS administration to remove materials hindering access in hospital wards.

The committee observed a moment of silence for the deceased infants and expressed condolences to their families. During a briefing, the PIMS administration mentioned that the situation was managed quickly, but committee members questioned the adequacy of staff present during the incident. The Federal Minister for Health reported that the fire spread rapidly, and previous safety lapses had not been addressed.

The committee resolved to scrutinize the inquiry report and demanded a comprehensive investigation into the incident, noting that established fire safety protocols were not followed. Concerns were also raised about the lack of inspection visits by the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) to PIMS in the last two years.

The committee emphasized the separation of administrative and clinical duties in hospitals and stressed the need for qualified professionals to manage hospital administration. Dissatisfaction was expressed over the coordination of relevant authorities, and the committee called for reforms in the national healthcare system, focusing on patient safety and emergency preparedness.

Senator Chishti reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to enhancing Pakistan’s healthcare system and urged public engagement in suggesting reforms. The committee also expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of key officials from the Capital Development Authority and other relevant bodies during the meeting.