PM Shehbaz orders inquiry into non-functional CT coronary angiography facility at PIMS

Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday ordered an inquiry into the non-operational CT coronary angiography facility at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), seeking to establish the facts and identify those responsible for the situation.

The prime minister directed the inquiry panel to review every relevant aspect of the matter, establish what actually happened and determine responsibility before submitting its findings.

The committee will be led by the Secretary of the Establishment Division. Its members include the Secretary of the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division; Brigadier Dr. Jahanzeb Ali of AFIC; Dr. Nusratullah Chaudhry; Professor Dr. Nadeem Hayat Malik; Brigadier (retd) Dr. Azmat Hayat of PIMS; and AFIC CT Angio Technician Umar Farooq.

The committee has also been authorised to include additional members if deemed necessary during the course of the investigation.

Under its terms of reference, the panel will establish whether PIMS possessed the technical capacity to conduct CT coronary angiography from 2022 onwards. If the capability existed, it will determine whether the necessary equipment, technical support, qualified personnel and software were available to operate the service.

The inquiry will also review how many CT coronary angiography procedures were carried out at PIMS since 2022, including their dates and nature. Hospital records and other relevant documentary material will also be examined as part of the investigation.

The panel will assess how the Cardiology and Radiology departments coordinated with each other and how patients were referred between the two departments. It will also examine the part played by the hospital administration in ensuring the availability and functioning of the CT angiography facility.

Another key area of investigation will be whether patients from the Cardiology Department were regularly directed to private medical facilities for CT coronary angiography despite the availability, or potential availability, of the service at the public hospital.

If such referrals are found to have taken place, the committee will investigate whether any particular private healthcare facility was favoured.

It will also calculate the extent of financial business that may have been shifted from PIMS to private centres as a result of those referrals.

The inquiry will further look into possible communication failures, administrative shortcomings, poor management or misunderstandings between the Cardiology and Radiology departments.

The committee will assess whether such issues resulted in any loss to the public interest and determine which officers or relevant offices were responsible.

PM Shehbaz directed the committee to carry out a thorough review of all pertinent records and circumstances and submit its findings.

The report will serve as the basis for any further action required under the applicable laws and rules.

The National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division will extend all necessary support to the committee throughout the inquiry process.