Govt orders fire safety audits of hospitals after PIMS tragedy | The Express Tribune

Following a tragic fire in the nursery ward of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), the Ministry of National Health Services on Friday ordered a comprehensive review of fire safety arrangements at government hospitals across the country.

The order came after fourteen newborn babies were killed on Wednesday after a fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital ward. Following the incident, Prime Minister Shehbaz suspended Health Secretary Aslam Ghori and formed an inquiry committee headed by former interior secretary Shahid Khan.

“In order to ensure safety of patients, healthcare professionals, staff and visitors, all public-sector hospitals under the administrative control of this Ministry shall immediately initiate a comprehensive fire safety audit of their respective healthcare facilities through a competent/authorized fire safety company/firm,” said the notification issued by the ministry.

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According to the directives, the audits will include a detailed review of fire safety arrangements, equipment and hospitals’ capacity to deal with emergencies.

The availability, condition and functionality of fire detection systems, fire alarms, firefighting equipment and other safety arrangements installed at the hospitals will be checked during the audits.

The notification said emergency and exit routes in hospitals would also be examined to determine whether they were available and usable for the safe evacuation of patients, staff and other people in an emergency.

The ministry has also directed a detailed assessment of electrical installations and other potential hazards that could cause a fire.

The notification directed the hospital administrations to immediately address deficiencies identified during the audit that could pose an immediate threat to human life or property and address the serious and hazardous deficiencies on a priority basis.

Under the directives, all relevant hospitals will immediately begin fire safety audits and inform the Ministry of National Health Services about the start of the audit, the company or organisation conducting it, and its expected completion date.

The ministry has also assigned the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) the responsibility of ensuring fire safety audits at public and private hospitals and medical institutions and directed them to verify the fire safety audits conducted at the relevant healthcare institutions and monitor progress in this regard.

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Calling the matter a “highest priority”, the ministry has also sought a comprehensive report on compliance with the fire safety audit directives which will include details of the state of fire safety arrangements at hospitals, deficiencies identified during the audits and measures taken to address them.

The orders for fire safety audits have been issued to PIMS, Polyclinic, Federal General Hospital Chak Shahzad and Sheikh Zayed Hospital Lahore, among other relevant institutions.

Fire at PIMS

A fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital at PIMS. Fifteen newborns were in the ward at the time. Fourteen suffered severe burns and later died, while one child survived and was rescued. The deaths have renewed scrutiny of fire-safety measures at healthcare facilities, including the availability of firefighting equipment, emergency exits and hospitals’ preparedness to respond to such emergencies.

Witnesses described chaotic and harrowing scenes, including intense smoke and broken glass, a slow response from emergency services and guards reportedly preventing them from leaving the ward.

PIMS Spokeswoman Aneeza Jalil told AFP an electrical fault caused the fire, and “fire sparked from the AC”.

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The deceased infants were laid to rest on Thursday amid tears, prayers and heart-rending scenes, as relatives struggled to come to terms with the loss of children who had only just entered the world and had brought hope and happiness to their families.

According to preliminary findings, the fire broke out at about 6:38am inside the nursery on the third floor of the maternity and child health ward. A spark was reported near an air conditioner, followed by a loud explosion at 6:39am, after which part of the ceiling collapsed.

The preliminary report said the fire spread through the nursery within about a minute, with oxygen points located alongside incubators intensifying the flames within seconds. Two doctors and two nurses were on duty when the fire erupted and immediately alerted hospital security and staff.

Only one of the babies inside the nursery was ultimately rescued alive. PIMS said in its preliminary report that staff safely evacuated a newborn baby girl, while four other babies and three mothers were rescued from an adjoining room.

The hospital administration later said the fire was caused by a short circuit, although officials stressed that the precise cause would only be established after the investigation. An inquiry committee headed by the additional deputy commissioner was also formed separately to determine the causes of the incident.

Also Read: Govt announces Rs5m compensation for each family of PIMS fire victims

The government announced a compensation of Rs5 million for the family of each newborn who died in the fire. In a statement, it said the financial assistance could never substitute for the precious lives lost but was intended to ease some of the difficulties faced by the grieving families.

The tragedy also triggered a political response, with the Pakistan Peoples Party demanding the resignation of Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed grief over the deaths and described the loss of 14 newborn babies as one of the worst tragedies in human history.

Kamal, meanwhile, said he had presented himself before the prime minister for accountability over the deaths and would accept whatever decision the premier made. “The prime minister is my boss, and I will accept whatever decision he makes,” he said.