PIMS Hospital Incident: Nobody Will Be Spared If Negligence is Proven, Says Federal Health Minister
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Health Mr Mustafa Kamal has revealed that the tragedy in the children intensive care unit of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital was caused by a blast of air conditioner in the ward which also had oxygen which made the fire spread rapidly.
In reference to the disaster, he said that 14 children have tragically lost their lives. He said the Director General of Health was on the spot and the hospital secretary was also on the scene and authorities were in touch with the parents of the deceased, who he was on his way to Islamabad from Karachi.
Neither strict accountability nor investigation will be waived.
The Federal Minister stated that a complete investigation will be carried out if it is confirmed that it was due to negligence of anyone and action will be strictly taken against the culprits. “If I am at fault, I won’t be spared from this either,” he said.
Power went out right after the fire started and the on-duty staff rushed to get help to come to the rescue, but the fire burned quickly, he said. He said that the equipment for firefighting work within the hospital was working but openly admitted that PIMS hospital was operating out of its capacity, and that the Public Healthcare System in Pakistan was not an ideal one.
Details of casualties and staff presence has been provided by Health Secretary.
Mustafa Kamal expressed his deep sadness and said the death of newborns is a terrible tragedy and there is no word to describe the loss and suffering of the affected families.
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri revealed that when the incident occurred, 15 babies were inside the nursery, of which only one baby could be rescued while 14 children tragically lost their lives. He said there were four staff on duty at the time of the fire.