Senate Panel Demands Action Over Child Deaths at PIMS

A Senate committee has called for strict accountability over the deaths of children at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad, directing authorities to act against officials found responsible and address weaknesses identified during an inquiry into the tragedy.

The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services reviewed the matter during a meeting chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti. Members were briefed on the findings of the inquiry conducted after the deaths and on the steps taken by the relevant authorities in response to the incident.

Officials informed the committee that responsibility had been determined as part of the investigation. Committee members stressed that accountability should proceed under the law and should not end with internal departmental measures. They called for meaningful action against those found responsible while emphasising the need to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The committee also directed the authorities to implement the inquiry's recommendations and urgently address institutional shortcomings identified during the investigation. Particular attention was placed on strengthening emergency services at the federal hospital and ensuring that critical departments are adequately equipped to respond to seriously ill children without avoidable delays.

Members highlighted the importance of maintaining sufficient numbers of doctors and nurses, along with adequate medicines and essential medical equipment. They also sought clearer procedures for the immediate treatment and referral of critically ill pediatric patients, arguing that stronger systems are necessary to reduce the risk of failures in emergency care.

Hospital management and accountability mechanisms were another focus of the discussion. The committee said monitoring should be strengthened in emergency and pediatric departments so that delays, negligence or failures of coordination can be identified and addressed before they place patients at risk. The directions put renewed scrutiny on administrative responsibility within major public hospitals and the safeguards governing emergency treatment.

The meeting also reviewed progress on recommendations made in August concerning the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. Separately, members examined complaints from graduates in microbiology, biotechnology and biochemistry who have raised concerns about professional recognition and registration under the Allied Health Professional Council Act, 2022. Officials briefed the committee on the existing legal framework and possible measures for resolving those issues.

The committee directed the relevant authorities to examine the concerns of affected degree holders in accordance with the law. Following the review of the PIMS inquiry, attention is now expected to focus on whether the recommended disciplinary and institutional measures are implemented, including improvements in emergency preparedness, staffing, medical supplies and oversight mechanisms at the hospital.