Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has expressed his determination to take action against those responsible for the tragic incident of the death of newborns in PIMS. He said that at whatever level negligence is revealed in the investigation, action will be taken against the concerned persons. The Health Minister also announced that he will not keep himself above accountability.
Talking to journalists in Islamabad, Mustafa Kamal said that he has reached Islamabad from Karachi and will appear before his higher authorities and inform them about the situation. According to him, experts and relevant institutions are investigating the incident.
The Health Minister said that all aspects will be reviewed during the investigation. He said that no facts will be hidden and the real situation will become clear after the investigation is completed.
The incident took place on August 26 at the Mother and Child Health Ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. According to officials, there were 15 newborn babies in the nursery. One baby was safely evacuated after the fire broke out, while 14 children died.
According to initial information, the fire broke out after a malfunction or spark in the air conditioning unit. According to the Health Minister, the CCTV record showed signs of a spark coming out of the air conditioner at around 6:38 am. However, the final cause of the fire will be revealed only after the investigation is completed.
The use of oxygen is also being considered an important aspect in the incident. Most of the newborn babies were receiving oxygen support. Authorities are reviewing what role safety arrangements played in the spread of the fire and dealing with the emergency.
Questions have also been raised about the hospital’s fire safety system after the accident. According to the Health Minister, there was no sprinkler system in the relevant ward. The hospital administration tried to use the available firefighting equipment and shift the children to safe places.
Action is underway at various levels to investigate the incident. Authorities are also examining the cause of the fire, as well as the hospital’s security arrangements and the response of the staff.
Mustafa Kamal clarified that the aim of the investigation is not only to determine those responsible but also to prevent such incidents in the future. He said that if negligence is proven at any level, action will be taken.
