The Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad operates from the dedicated Mother and Child Health Care (MCH) Centre and is among the capital’s largest public-sector facilities for obstetric and gynaecological care.
The department provides services ranging from routine gynaecological consultations and deliveries to high-risk pregnancies, infertility treatment and specialised surgeries. However, concerns have also emerged over overcrowding, hygiene, infrastructure and patient safety following a series of recent incidents and allegations.
Department location and timings
The MCH Centre is located at PIMS Hospital in Sector G-8/3, Islamabad.
- Morning OPD: Monday to Saturday, 8am to 2pm
- Registration: Usually begins between 7am and 8am
- Evening OPD: Monday to Saturday, 3pm to 6pm
- Emergency and labour room: Available 24/7
- Registration fee: Generally nominal, with charges reported to range from around Rs100 to Rs500.
What services does the department provide?
The Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department offers a broad range of services, including general gynaecology and obstetrics, high-risk pregnancy care, a subfertility clinic, urogynaecology and fistula management.
The purpose-built MCH Centre also includes specialised operation theatres, a laparoscopic surgery unit and a high-dependency unit equipped with ventilators. Neonatology services are available around the clock.
The department is staffed by senior professors, associate professors and postgraduate trainees, including doctors pursuing FCPS, MS and MRCOG qualifications, who deal with complicated and high-risk cases.
One of the major advantages of PIMS is the relatively low cost of tertiary healthcare compared with private hospitals. Patients can access consultations, ultrasounds, deliveries and major surgical procedures at substantially lower costs.
Overcrowding remains a major challenge
As a major public-sector referral hospital, PIMS receives a large number of patients every day. The heavy patient load can result in long queues for registration, consultations and diagnostic services.
The high volume of patients can also place significant pressure on junior doctors, nurses and other hospital staff, potentially affecting the time available for individual patients, particularly during peak hours.
Public complaints have also previously highlighted crowded waiting areas, administrative delays and concerns regarding hospital infrastructure and safety.
Newborn custody dispute reaches Islamabad court
The department has recently come under further scrutiny after a family approached the Islamabad District and Sessions Court seeking the immediate custody of a newborn, alleging that PIMS had refused to hand the baby over to the mother.
The petition was filed by the newborn’s maternal grandmother, Nasreen Bibi, and was heard by Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Ali Warraich.
The court directed the PIMS administration to submit a report on the matter by 2pm the same day. Police were also instructed to visit the hospital and submit a separate report.
According to the petition, the woman gave birth at PIMS and had completed the required formalities, but the newborn was allegedly not handed over to her.
The petitioner further alleged that a head nurse in the hospital’s gynaecology department demanded Rs500,000 from the family for handing over the baby. The petition claimed the family was threatened that the newborn would not be returned to the mother if the alleged payment was not made.
The family also alleged that the baby could potentially be handed over to unknown individuals if the demand was not met.
The petitioner asked the court to order the immediate transfer of the newborn’s custody to the mother.
The allegations contained in the petition have not been independently verified, while PIMS had not publicly responded to the claims at the time the court sought its report.
Hygiene concerns at PIMS emergency department
PIMS has also faced criticism over the condition of its emergency department after videos and photographs circulated on social media showing patients being treated in an environment described by users as unclean.
The footage showed medical waste bins placed close to patients and treatment areas, prompting questions about hygiene and infection-control measures.
Social media users questioned how patients could receive treatment in such conditions and urged authorities to take notice.
A lawmaker also called for an inquiry, stressing that public hospitals should maintain appropriate hygiene standards to protect patients from avoidable health risks.
One social media post highlighted concerns about severe heat, inadequate cleanliness and reportedly malfunctioning equipment at the hospital.
An Islamabad resident, Ahmed Raza, who said he had recently visited PIMS with a family member, told The Pakistan Connect that the conditions shown in the videos reflected what he had witnessed.
He said doctors were making efforts to care for patients, but claimed that the environment was not clean, washrooms were dirty, waste bins were overflowing and attendants were forced to stand in crowded hallways.
Another patient, Sadia Khan, also raised concerns about sanitation, saying the large number of patients and limited attention to hygiene were major issues.
At the time of the report, the hospital had not issued a detailed public response to the allegations.
PIMS nursery fire raises fresh safety questions
Concerns surrounding PIMS intensified further after a fire broke out in the nursery of the Mother and Child Hospital early Wednesday (today).
Officials said at least 15 newborn babies lost their lives after the fire erupted at around 6:45am. According to PIMS officials, the nursery housed newborns who were either in incubators or receiving oxygen.
PIMS spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil said 15 babies were present in the ward and that one newborn was rescued by a doctor. However, hospital documents indicated that 14 newborns were admitted or under treatment, while a 15th baby was rescued.
The incident has brought renewed attention to safety arrangements, emergency evacuation procedures and the overall condition of the hospital’s Mother and Child Health Centre.
With PIMS serving as a major public-sector referral hospital, the recent allegations and incidents have raised questions about whether its infrastructure, staffing, hygiene standards and emergency preparedness are adequate for the large number of patients it serves.