LAHORE MIRROR — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday approved the immediate suspension of eight officials, including Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Executive Director Professor Dr Imran Sikandar, following an interim investigation into the hospital tragedy.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Shehbaz chaired a high-level meeting in Lahore to review the PIMS incident, during which the interim report of the investigation committee was presented.
On the committee’s recommendations, the prime minister approved the immediate suspension of eight individuals and ordered departmental and criminal proceedings against those found responsible.
The suspended officials include Pims Executive Director Professor Dr Imran Sikandar, Joint Executive Directors Dr Mutahir Shah and Dr Owais Ali Shah, Dr Nousheela Amjad, Assistant Director Security Muhammad Usman, Capital Development Authority Emergency Services Director General Abdul Rehman, Head of the Neonatal Department Dr Saadia Riaz and a senior registrar.
The prime minister also approved action against the private security company responsible for security at the hospital, as well as its officials.
A nurse and a female security guard who were present in the affected ward have been made Officers on Special Duty (OSDs), with further investigations ordered.
PM Shehbaz directed that criminal proceedings be initiated against all those found responsible without discrimination.
He also approved the award of Sitara-i-Khidmat to the nurse who saved a baby during the incident.
Dr Muhammad Salman has been directed to serve as acting executive director of PIMS. The prime minister also ordered the immediate and simultaneous appointment of new officials in place of those removed.
The Prime Minister’s Office said the investigation report would shortly be uploaded to the Ministry of National Health Services’ website.
Initial probe highlights major safety lapses
The preliminary investigation found that PIMS lacked detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and adequate training for emergencies. Of the hospital’s 13 SOPs, only two subsections contained references to fire or emergency situations.
The meeting was informed that no supervisory staff were present in the ward when the incident occurred. Two nurses, a female security guard and a house officer were on duty.
The briefing stated that the fire spread through and completely engulfed the ward within just two minutes.
One nurse managed to save a baby before the fire spread through the ward.
However, emergency services were called six minutes after the fire broke out, while the first emergency response reached PIMS 15 minutes after the call.
The findings have prompted the government to order immediate action against those responsible and further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
