Islamabad: The federal government has reportedly removed the Health Secretary from office following a devastating fire in the children’s intensive care unit at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where 14 children reportedly lost their lives.
According to an informed source, the decision was linked to alleged failure to comply with repeated instructions from the prime minister to personally inspect major hospitals in Islamabad, particularly PIMS.
The source said the prime minister had directed the Health Secretary on several occasions to visit hospitals and assess conditions firsthand. These inspections were reportedly intended to cover the quality of medical care, available facilities, patient arrangements and the overall standard of hospital management.
According to the source, particular emphasis had been placed on ensuring the availability of modern medical equipment and essential electromechanical systems. However, the required inspections reportedly did not take place. The source further claimed that the prime minister had repeated the instruction four days before the PIMS incident, but the visit could not be conducted.
Following the ICU fire and the deaths of the children, the Health Secretary was removed from the post. However, the immediate administrative action does not necessarily establish the secretary’s complete responsibility for the tragedy. A formal inquiry has been launched to determine what went wrong and whether failures occurred at different levels of hospital administration and oversight.
The inquiry committee is expected to submit its findings to the prime minister, with the report likely to examine operational, administrative and management failures. Its recommendations could determine whether additional officials face disciplinary action, including members of the PIMS administration and officers responsible for hospital management and supervision.
Questions have also emerged over whether Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal could face action after the inquiry. Sources said no decision regarding the minister had been confirmed so far. His position could depend largely on whether the inquiry committee identifies responsibility extending beyond the Health Secretary and other administrative officials.
