ISLAMABAD: The removal of the federal secretary health immediately after the tragic fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Children’s ICU, which claimed the lives of 14 children, was prompted by his alleged failure to comply with repeated directions from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to personally inspect Islamabad’s hospitals, particularly Pims, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The prime minister had, on more than one occasion, directed the secretary health to visit the hospitals himself and assess the situation on the ground, including the standard of treatment, facilities and overall arrangements for patients, the source said.
“He was specifically asked to ensure latest equipment and electromedical devices,” disclosed the source. The secretary, however, could not undertake the required visits.
According to the source, the prime minister had issued the same direction to the secretary just four days before the Pims tragedy, but the visit could not take place. Following the deaths of children in the ICU fire, the prime minister immediately removed the secretary from his position.
The immediate action, however, does not necessarily indicate that responsibility for the tragedy has been fully determined.
An inquiry committee constituted to investigate the incident is expected to submit its findings to the prime minister, with the report still awaited as of Friday evening. The committee is expected to identify lapses and fix responsibility at different levels, after which further action could be taken.
Questions are now being raised over whether more heads will roll and whether Health Minister Mustafa Kamal will also face action following the inquiry.
A source said no decision regarding the minister had so far been confirmed. The matter would depend largely on the findings of the inquiry committee and whether it fixes responsibility on the minister or other officials.
The source, however, pointed out that in cases involving serious administrative failures, the immediate removal of senior officials is normally carried out within the first 24 hours, while subsequent action is generally taken after the findings of an inquiry.
The health minister has also come under pressure from various quarters, with demands being made for his resignation following the deaths of children. However, there is currently no confirmation that he has been asked to step down.
The inquiry report is therefore expected to be crucial in determining whether the initial removal of the secretary health will be followed by further action against other officials, including those responsible for the administration and management of Pims.
The tragedy has also raised questions about the effectiveness of existing oversight mechanisms at major public-sector hospitals and whether senior officials were adequately monitoring the condition of critical-care facilities.
The government’s immediate response was to remove the secretary health, but the scope of accountability will become clearer once the inquiry committee submits its findings to the prime minister.
Originally published in The News
