Senator Sherry Rehman has submitted an adjournment motion in the Senate over the PIMS tragedy, expressing serious concern over the fire that broke out in the hospital’s nursery. She said the bodies of the children have yet to be identified, raising serious questions about the emergency response and management at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
She questioned how such a situation could occur at the country’s main federal hospital. Sherry Rehman said the incident was extremely serious and raised several important questions. PIMS provides medical services to the people of Islamabad, and last year, a report was also sought regarding the hospital’s water supply, firefighting arrangements, and emergency systems.
She said similar questions had been raised last year, but the matter was eventually resolved. “Public accountability is very important because people are demanding answers from us, and the entire country is protesting over this tragedy,” she said. The senator questioned why there was no proper access to the hospital, why the gate was not opened, and why no explanation had yet been given for keeping the emergency gate closed. She said people were forced to break windows to escape.
She noted that the Prime Minister has taken notice of the incident and removed the Health Secretary from his post. She added that the Executive Director of PIMS would also have to explain why the hospital’s system failed.
Sherry Rehman said such a tragedy had rarely, if ever, been witnessed at a major central hospital in the capital. She pointed out that there was no water available at the firefighting points and that doctors were also not present at the scene. She said the authorities had to take action themselves to deal with the emergency.