Punjab Hospitals Ordered to Bolster Fire Safety After Deadly PIMS Blaze

Authorities across Punjab have been mandated to implement robust fire safety measures in all healthcare facilities following a tragic incident that claimed the lives of 14 infants at Islamabad's Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Wednesday.

The devastating fire erupted on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital's ward. Preliminary reports suggest a spark from an air conditioning unit may have ignited the blaze. Accounts from witnesses describe a harrowing scene, with individuals struggling to reach the neonatal intensive care unit, encountering locked doors, and facing delays in emergency service response.

In response, the Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) issued urgent directives on Thursday, emphasizing the critical need for effective fire safety implementation in both public and private hospitals throughout the province. Health departments, the Punjab Emergency Services Department, and hospital administrations are now required to take immediate action to ensure comprehensive emergency preparedness.

These directives include ensuring the availability of trained staff, maintaining functional emergency equipment, allocating adequate resources, and conducting regular emergency drills. Hospitals must also adhere to prescribed Minimum Service Delivery Standards, including those related to Facility Management and Hospital Infection Control. The PHC stressed the importance of establishing emergency coding systems, such as "code red" for fires, maintaining firefighting equipment, and developing clear standard operating procedures.

Furthermore, hospitals are instructed to prominently display emergency exit maps and secure necessary building safety certificates. The Punjab Emergency Services Department will conduct inspections under relevant acts and regulations, with a focus on identifying and reporting non-compliant institutions to the PHC. A review of inspections conducted over the past three years is also underway.