MPs demand resignations of health minister, PIMS’ ED

Members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services and Regulations have called for the Health Minister and the Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) to resign. They expressed their dissatisfaction after visiting the hospital following a tragic incident that resulted in the death of 14 infants.

The Health Minister initially claimed the fire was due to a spark in the air conditioner, but the committee sought to determine whether the fire was caused by negligence or a technical fault. Committee Chairperson Mahesh Kumar Malani stated that the committee would look at the issue with impartiality and study the findings from a separate inquiry committee formed by the Prime Minister.

Committee members questioned the hospital administration on various matters, including fire drills, the last fire audit, and human errors that may have led to the incident. They also sought information on the functionality of fire alarms and the maintenance of the nursery. The Executive Director of PIMS has set up a committee to investigate the fire incident, but the Health Minister has refused to resign on moral grounds.