Punjab moves to strengthen emergency response at public hospitals after Pims tragedy

Punjab government has taken significant measures to enhance emergency response capabilities at public-sector hospitals in response to the tragic loss of 14 infants at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in Islamabad. Emergency Services Department (ESD) Punjab Secretary Rizwan Naseer has been directed to deploy Rescue 1122 officials at all government teaching hospitals across the province.

This initiative aims to establish a standardised and integrated emergency response system with clear roles, command structures, and escalation mechanisms across tertiary-care hospitals in Punjab.

A 11-member Technical Working Group (TWG) has been formed, comprising senior medical professionals, to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for nursery and neonatology units at all public-sector teaching hospitals in the province. The committee, led by University of Child Health Sciences Lahore Vice Chancellor Prof Masood Sadiq, will focus on creating clinical admission and discharge criteria, step-down and shared-care pathways, and comprehensive SOPs for fire safety, evacuation, and electrical-load management in neonatal settings.

Additionally, they will design training modules for hospital staff on evacuation drills, neonatal handling, and basic firefighting, as well as develop checklists and audit tools for regular compliance monitoring. The TWG is expected to submit its recommendations within a week.