Lahore: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday approved immediate suspension of eight individuals identified by the inquiry committee and ordered action against them in connection with the fire incident at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
The premier chaired a high-level meeting on the PIMS fire incident during which the interim report of the inquiry committee was presented.
The eight individuals are PIMS Executive Director Professor Dr Imran Sikandar, Joint Executive Directors Dr Mutahir Shah and Chaudhry Dr Owais Ali Shah, Neonatal Department Head Professor Dr Saadia Riaz, Senior Registrar Dr Naghma, Dr Nousheela Amjad, PIMS Security Assistant Director Muhammad Usman and CDA Emergency Services Director General Dr Abdul Rehman.
The Prime Minister directed that criminal proceedings be initiated against those responsible without discrimination and also approved action against the security company and its officials deployed at the hospital.
The premier also approved the conferment of the Sitara-e-Khidmat and a cash reward of Rs 10 million for nurse Razia Noreen, who risked her life to save a child.
Shehbaz Sharif further directed that another nurse and a female security guard who were present in the ward be made Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) and that further investigations be conducted.
PM further directed that Dr Muhammad Salman, CEO of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), be appointed Acting Executive Director of PIMS.
He ordered the immediate appointment of new officials, in one go, in place of those removed from their positions.
The premier also directed that the interim report of the inquiry committee be made public immediately. The report will be uploaded on the website of the Ministry of National Health Services within a short while.
Speaking during the meeting, the Prime Minister said that those responsible for criminal negligence did not deserve any concession. ‘Those responsible for this incident will be brought to justice,’ he said.
‘The deaths of innocent children are a tragic incident over which the entire nation is grieving. My sympathies, along with those of the entire nation, are with the parents of the children. Exemplary punishment will be ensured for those responsible so that no mother is ever separated from her child due to anyone’s criminal negligence,’ he added.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to nurse Razia Noreen for demonstrating exceptional courage and responsibility by rushing to save a child despite the fire, just moments before the ward was engulfed in flames.
He said that nurse Razia Noreen had demonstrated exceptional responsibility and the finest example of humanity.
‘The entire nation, including myself, is proud of nurse Razia Noreen for risking her life to save the child,’ he said, adding that such acts of courage and devotion should be recognised and appreciated.
The inquiry committee presented its interim report to the meeting.
CCTV footage of the incident, which lasted approximately two minutes, was also shown during the meeting.
The preliminary investigation revealed that PIMS had no detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) or training for dealing with fire or other emergency situations.
The briefing stated that among PIMS’s 13 SOPs, references to fire or emergency situations were found in only two sub-sections.
No supervisory staff was present on duty at the time of the incident. Two nurses, a female security guard and a house officer were present in the ward when the fire broke out. It took only two minutes for the fire to spread and engulf the entire ward. One nurse risked her life and saved a child before the fire could spread throughout the ward.
The briefing further revealed that emergency services were called six minutes after the fire broke out, while the first emergency response arrived 15 minutes later.
Just one month earlier, in July, a fire had broken out at the PIMS nursing hostel, but no serious measures were taken to improve safety arrangements at the hospital even after that incident.
There was no fire alarm or sprinkler system in the ward. The neonatal ward was found to be in violation of all relevant WHO regulations in this regard. There was also no designated officer at the hospital responsible for dealing with fire or similar emergency situations; the Assistant Director had been assigned the additional responsibility.
The meeting was also briefed on the dilapidated condition of the hospital and administrative mismanagement.
The Prime Minister thanked Inquiry Committee Chairman Shahid Khan and all its members. He directed the committee to complete the investigation and submit a more detailed report.
Federal Ministers Ahsan Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar and Syed Mustafa Kamal, Inquiry Committee Chairman Shahid Khan, members Barrister Nabeel Awan and Major General (retd.) Khursheed Utra and other relevant senior officials attended the meeting.
