PIMS Tragedy Triggers Fire Safety Checks at Another Big Hospital

Authorities have begun checking fire safety arrangements at hospitals in Rawalpindi after the deadly tragedy at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on Wednesday.

Key points

• Extra Deputy Commissioner Enforcement Abdul Rehman Khan accompanied by a Rescue team inspected Benazir Bhutto Hospital.
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• Capt (Retd) Mahmood Gets Extra Charge of Health Secretary.
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• The PIMS tragedy exposed the serious consequences of inadequate emergency preparedness at healthcare facilities, where patients can be particularly vulnerable during fires and other disasters.

Extra Deputy Commissioner Enforcement Abdul Rehman Khan accompanied by a Rescue team inspected Benazir Bhutto Hospital. Authorities haven't answered why such basic safety checks are being carried out only after a major tragedy has already occurred at another public hospital.

Rather than waiting for another incident, authorities need to ensure that fire safety inspections at hospitals are regular, documented and followed by corrective action, instead of being introduced only when a tragedy puts public safety under the spotlight. Capt (Retd) Mahmood Gets Extra Charge of Health Secretary.

Notably, the PIMS tragedy exposed the serious consequences of inadequate emergency preparedness at healthcare facilities, where patients can be particularly vulnerable during fires and other disasters.

For context, the Rawalpindi administration has not indicated whether similar comprehensive safety inspections were conducted at Benazir Bhutto Hospital before Wednesday's PIMS incident or whether any shortcomings identified during the latest visit had previously been documented. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

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Taken together, the developments around PIMS Tragedy Triggers Fire Safety Checks at Another Big Hospital point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.