PM Shehbaz directs PIMS' overhaul, implementation of short-term measures within 3 months

Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the relevant authorities to implement all short-term remedial and fire protection measures at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) within three months, in accordance with international safety standards and the findings of the inquiry report.

The prime minister gave these directions while presiding over a meeting convened to examine the proposed action plan for upgrading PIMS.

He directed the concerned authorities to carry out the short-term recommendations identified by the inquiry committee within the three-month deadline and make every effort to bring the hospital’s infrastructure and services up to internationally accepted standards.

During the meeting, the inquiry report on the PIMS fire incident and the performance audit of the Institute by the Ministry of National Health Services were reviewed.

PM Shehbaz recommended seeking technical guidance and recommendations from the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) for strengthening the hospital’s fire protection arrangements. He also stressed that the recommendations put forward in the World Health Organisation’s report should be properly implemented.

The prime minister directed that the improvement plan should also contain concrete measures to ensure that medicines and other necessary healthcare facilities are made available to patients entirely free of cost.

He called for the induction of reputable and capable human resources and ordered the preparation of a detailed strategy incorporating long-term steps for the comprehensive improvement of PIMS.

He further directed the authorities to conduct an audit of Polyclinic Hospital to identify and address any irregularities and prepare a restructuring plan for the institution.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) was also instructed to ensure that fire safety requirements are enforced in all public and private hospitals operating in the federal capital.

PM Shehbaz said the CDA and other relevant departments should also undertake fire safety inspections of government and privately owned buildings and make certain that the required safety arrangements are implemented.

The Ministry of National Health Services, while briefing the meeting on measures being undertaken to improve PIMS, revealed that the hospital had achieved only 39.7% compliance in the indicators assessed through its performance audit, against an acceptable benchmark of 90%.

The meeting was further informed that 37 measures recommended in the inquiry report were being implemented on an immediate basis.

The participants were also briefed on a range of short-, medium- and long-term initiatives aimed at improving the hospital’s overall facilities and performance.

Federal Ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar and Syed Mustafa Kamal, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, and other senior officials concerned were present at the meeting.