Islamabad, 26 August (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Fourteen newborn babies have died in a Pakistan hospital fire at a major government medical facility in Islamabad, prompting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to suspend the country’s federal health secretary and order a high-level investigation.
The fire broke out on Wednesday morning in the nursery of the Mother and Child Health ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), one of the capital’s largest state-run hospitals. Hospital officials confirmed that 14 babies died and one newborn was rescued.
Pakistan hospital fire prompts suspension of health secretary
Prime Minister Sharif suspended Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri and removed him from his post while chairing an emergency meeting following the deaths.
Pakistan’s state-run Radio Pakistan reported that Sharif ordered the secretary to leave the meeting after announcing the suspension. The prime minister also established a high-level inquiry committee headed by former interior secretary Shahid Khan.
Authorities are examining the cause of the blaze, the hospital’s fire-safety arrangements and the effectiveness of the emergency response.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the fire spread extremely rapidly after an apparent fault involving an air-conditioning system. He said oxygen lines in the nursery contributed to the spread of the flames and acknowledged that the area did not have a sprinkler system.
Emergency services deployed six fire engines and four ambulances, according to the Islamabad administration. The fire was contained to the affected area of the hospital.
Sharif demands investigation and accountability
Sharif expressed condolences to the families during the emergency meeting and ordered what Radio Pakistan described as the “strictest possible action” following the inquiry.
The broadcaster quoted the prime minister as saying: “Our hearts are deeply grieved by this tragic incident,” adding that the government shared the grief of the parents.
President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed condolences and called for those responsible for any failures to be identified and dealt with under the law. He urged hospitals to strengthen fire-prevention measures and emergency procedures.
Fire safety at PIMS comes under scrutiny
The Pakistan hospital fire has intensified questions about emergency preparedness at public healthcare facilities.
Arab News reported that a previous Capital Development Authority survey covering about 6,500 public and private buildings in Islamabad, including 300 government facilities, identified widespread shortcomings involving fire-safety approvals and certification.
Investigators are now examining whether adequate fire detection, suppression and evacuation arrangements were functioning at PIMS when the blaze began.
Families and patients face consequences
The deaths have left 14 families bereaved and placed renewed attention on safety standards in neonatal and maternity units, where patients can be particularly difficult to evacuate during emergencies.
Newborn babies receiving oxygen or treatment in incubators are especially dependent on hospital staff and functioning emergency systems during a fire.
What happens next?
A separate fact-finding committee established by Islamabad’s district magistrate has been instructed to determine the precise cause of the fire, assess fire-safety measures and examine the rescue response. It was ordered to submit its findings within 24 hours.
The high-level committee ordered by Sharif has also begun its investigation. Any further disciplinary or legal action will depend on the findings and whether investigators establish negligence or breaches of safety requirements.
