By Ahmed Shamas-ur-Rehman/ANI
ISLAMABAD: Serious administrative negligence and alleged carelessness have come to light in connection with the fire that broke out in the children’s nursery at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
According to sources, Dr. Aneza, Secretary of the PIMS Administration Investigation Committee, is not an employee of PIMS. Her primary posting is at Polyclinic Hospital.
Sources said a summary had been submitted for appointments against vacant posts in the Pediatrics Department, but despite the passage of two years, recruitment could not be made. Several key positions, including professor, associate professor and assistant professor, have remained vacant in the PIMS Pediatrics Department for the past two years.
The sources further revealed that some of the children who died in the fire could not be identified because of the deteriorated condition of their bodies. Their remains were reportedly handed over to their families on the basis of estimates. Only two twins could be identified because their heads were connected.
It was also revealed that the picture of the child described on social media as having miraculously survived the incident is not of the actual surviving child. The child who survived the fire is reportedly extremely weak and was kept safe while receiving care. At the time of the incident, Dr. Rimsha and Dr. Rehman were reportedly providing resuscitation and pumping support to the child in the MC ward.
According to sources, the new children’s block constructed at PIMS by a Japanese company is fully equipped with modern facilities and medical equipment. The NICU and NHDU were shifted to the new block four months ago, while the nursery remained in the old gynecology ward.
The Japanese company’s team reportedly visited PIMS three to four times during the past four months and directed the administration to immediately shift the nursery to the new block. However, sources said that the PIMS Executive Director did not shift the nursery.
Sources stated that continuous leakage in the oxygen flow meters of incubators has been identified as the main cause of the nursery fire.
It was further revealed that the fire spread while attempts were being made to extinguish it using old fire extinguishers available in the nursery. The nursery also reportedly lacked a fire safety NOC.
At the time of the fire, the upper and lower passages of the tower connecting the new and old emergency and OPD blocks were closed. Sources said that had the upper doors of the tower been open, the staff and children could have been shifted to the old block, potentially saving lives.
The revelations have raised serious questions regarding fire safety arrangements, administrative decision-making, staffing shortages and the failure to shift the nursery to the newly constructed children’s block despite repeated directions.
