PMDC Mandates Fire Safety Drills for House Officers After PIMS Fire

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has made fire-safety training and drills mandatory for house officers at medical and dental institutions, moving to strengthen emergency preparedness after the deadly fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad on August 26. The incident, in which 14 newborn babies died, has intensified scrutiny of safety arrangements at healthcare facilities.

PMDC President Prof Dr Rizwan Taj said the new training programme will be incorporated into the house-job framework, making emergency preparedness a formal part of practical medical training. The initiative is intended to improve the ability of young doctors to respond quickly during fires and to protect patients, healthcare workers, students and other hospital staff.

Under the programme, house officers will participate in regular fire drills and evacuation exercises at medical colleges and teaching hospitals. Training will cover the identification of potential fire hazards, correct use of fire extinguishers, evacuation procedures, emergency routes and effective communication during a crisis. The council wants healthcare institutions to develop a routine culture of preparedness rather than relying only on responses after an emergency occurs.

The regulatory decision followed a review of existing fire-safety procedures and gaps that authorities believe require urgent attention. PMDC has directed medical colleges and teaching hospitals under its regulatory framework to maintain stronger fire-protection arrangements and improve their ability to manage emergencies involving patients and staff.

Dr Taj said special consideration was necessary for vulnerable patients who depend heavily on healthcare workers during emergencies. In hospitals, evacuation can be more complicated than in ordinary buildings because many patients may be critically ill, immobile or dependent on medical equipment, increasing the importance of staff knowing their responsibilities before an emergency develops.

The PMDC chief also indicated that the initiative may eventually extend beyond house officers. The council is interested in broadening fire-safety education to medical students and postgraduate trainees before expanding it to other healthcare professionals. Such an expansion would make emergency-response training more widely embedded across Pakistan's medical workforce.

The move carries national significance because PMDC regulates medical and dental education and professional standards across Pakistan. Requiring structured drills could push teaching hospitals and colleges to reassess evacuation plans, equipment availability, emergency communication systems and staff readiness, particularly at facilities handling large numbers of patients every day.

The next phase will depend on implementation by medical colleges and teaching hospitals, which will need to conduct regular exercises and ensure house officers receive practical instruction. The council's decision also places renewed attention on institutional fire-safety standards following the PIMS tragedy, with regulators expected to monitor whether emergency-preparedness measures are being strengthened across the healthcare system.