The trust and confidence of masses in public sector medical institutions further eroded massively by the tragedy that befell new-born babies on early morning Wednesday in the prime medical facility of the Federal Capital – Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) where fourteen infants were killed in the fire. Official statements and explanations notwithstanding, eye witness accounts highlight pathetic conditions including negligence, bad administration, poor facilities, lack of fire safety mechanism and absenteeism, among other things, as contributing factors that produced another black spot in the public sector healthcare system.
The nation stands in solidarity with families who lost babies and also hopes, as several of them got offshoots after years of prayers and wait. Neither consolation nor financial assistance can compensate for the great loss they suffered and that too because of failure of the system. Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, established in 1985, is Capital’s largest public sector hospital comprising several facilities and teaching institutions. It offered quality services but conditions started deteriorating a few years back and now it has become a classic example of a poorly managed medical institution. A casual visit to emergency ward and intensive care units of the hospitals would tell the tale as they resemble scenarios of a fish market. Two/three patients are loaded on single stretchers that are found in abundance both outside the emergency and ICUs premises and their corridors with attendants waiting desperately for their turn to get treatment and received somewhat attention only if they have proper links and connections with staff or doctors. Diagnostic and supportive equipment is in bad shape and often in not working order while treatment leaves much to be desired. No doubt, PIMS also receives a large number of patients from KP, Punjab and Azad Kashmir and one can understand the reasons for extraordinary congestion yet question arises as to why proportionate expansion has not been carried out for decades.
The chaotic conditions and lack of proper medical facilities and treatment at PIMS is yet another proof that health and education are no more priorities with the government. And the most disturbing aspect of Wednesday’s dreadful tragedy was that fourteen babies were burnt alive in the absence of timely response by the staff and difficulties faced by the rescue teams in reaching out to the victims, who were allegedly locked and bereaved mothers claim there were no nurses and doctors in the nursery. It meant that an entire ward of new-born babies was left at the mercy of circumstances. Why are air-conditioners, oxygen cylinders not properly checked against any possible safety hazard? In fact, there is something seriously wrong with the administration and management of the public sector hospitals. Doctors insist they should be entrusted with the task of management and rightly so as they have intimate knowledge of the profession but such instances show they have failed to exploit their expertise to bring about improvements in the system and avoid tragedies. The tragic incident has attracted world-wide attention and there are statements from relevant high-ups about fixation of responsibility, accountability and initiation of measures to ensure safety and provision of proper facilities.
An inquiry committee has been formed to determine exact cause of the fire, assess whether adequate and functional fire-safety measures were in place and evaluate the response time and effectiveness of rescue and fire-fighting operations. Its findings and report should lead to improvement not only in PIMS but also other public sector hospitals. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, taking notice of the incident, has removed the Federal Health Secretary but it appears a remote link of the chain has been made a scapegoat, sparing those directly responsible with the management and administration of the hospital. The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has legitimately pointed out that healthcare facilities are designed to protect and restore human lives, yet administrative failure and regulatory oversight lapses have turned these institutions into danger zones. It should also be ensured that grieving parents and families receive complete legal, financial and emotional justice.
