Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday ordered immediate action against eight individuals held responsible by an inquiry committee for the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) neonatal ward fire, approving their suspension along with departmental and criminal proceedings.
The directives were issued after 14 newborn babies died on Wednesday when a fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital’s neonatal ward.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Shehbaz chaired a high-level meeting on the incident, where the inquiry committee’s interim report and approximately two minutes of CCTV footage showing the incident were presented.
The prime minister ordered that all those found responsible for criminal negligence should face prosecution without any discrimination, stressing that they would not be given any concession.
The eight people identified by the inquiry committee include PIMS Executive Director Prof Dr Imran Sikandar, Joint Executive Directors Dr Mutahir Shah and Chaudhry Dr Owais Ali Shah, Head of the Neonatal Department Prof Dr Sadia Riaz, Senior Registrar Dr Naghma, Dr Nousheela Amjad, PIMS Assistant Director Security Mohammad Usman and Capital Development Authority Emergency Services Director General Dr Abdul Rehman.
PM Shehbaz also approved action against the security company deployed at the hospital and its officials, directing that those responsible be brought to justice.
He stressed that exemplary punishment would be ensured to prevent any mother from losing her child in the future because of criminal negligence.
“The death of innocent children is a tragic incident over which the entire nation is grieving,” the prime minister said, adding that he and the entire nation stood with the bereaved parents.
The prime minister also approved the conferment of the Sitara-e-Khidmat and a cash reward of Rs10 million for nurse Raziya Noreen, who risked her life to rescue a newborn during the fire.
He paid tribute to Noreen for displaying exceptional responsibility and courage by moving through the fire to save a baby moments before the nursery was engulfed in flames.
“Nurse Raziya Noreen has demonstrated an exceptional example of responsibility and bravery,” PM Shehbaz said.
He said the entire nation, including himself, was proud of Noreen for putting her own life at risk to save the child.
“People who demonstrate such dedication to their duty cannot be praised enough,” the prime minister added.
PM Shehbaz also ordered that a nurse and a female guard who were present in the ward be made officers on special duty (OSD), while directing further investigation into their roles in the incident.
The prime minister directed Dr Mohammad Salman, CEO of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to assume charge as acting executive director of PIMS.
He further ordered the immediate and simultaneous appointment of new officials to replace those removed from their positions.
The prime minister also directed that the inquiry committee’s interim report be made public immediately. According to the meeting, the report would shortly be uploaded on the Ministry of National Health’s website.
Inquiry Findings
During the meeting, the inquiry committee’s interim report and around two minutes of CCTV footage of the incident were presented to the prime minister.
The briefing revealed that the initial investigation found PIMS lacked detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and proper training for dealing with fires and other emergencies.
Of the hospital’s 13 SOPs, only two subsections contained references to fire or emergency situations, the meeting was informed.
Supervisory staff were also not present on duty when the fire broke out. According to the briefing, two nurses, a female guard and a house officer were present in the ward at the time.
The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the entire ward within just two minutes, the meeting was told.
One nurse managed to rescue a child before the flames spread throughout the ward, risking her own life in the process.
Emergency services were called six minutes after the fire broke out, while the first emergency response reached the site 15 minutes later, according to the briefing.
The meeting was also informed that a fire had broken out at the PIMS nursing hostel just one month earlier, in July. However, serious measures to improve fire safety at the hospital were not taken afterwards.
The neonatal ward had neither a fire alarm nor a sprinkler system, while the briefing stated that the ward was in violation of all relevant World Health Organisation (WHO) rules.
The meeting was further informed that no officer had been specifically designated at the hospital to handle emergencies such as fires. Instead, the assistant director had been assigned the responsibility in addition to his existing duties.
The prime minister was also briefed on the hospital’s dilapidated condition and administrative mismanagement.
PM Shehbaz thanked inquiry committee chairman Shahid Khan and all members of the committee for their efforts. He directed them to complete the investigation and submit a more detailed report.