After Pims incident, PMDC makes fire safety drills mandatory for house officers

Islamabad witnessed a tragic event on Aug 26, 2023, at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), where 14 newborn babies tragically lost their lives due to a fire outbreak. In response to this devastating incident, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has taken decisive action to enhance fire safety measures across all medical and dental institutions in the country.

PMDC President, Prof Dr Rizwan Taj, announced the implementation of a mandatory training programme for house officers in medical and dental colleges. This initiative aims to raise fire safety awareness and preparedness, ensuring the well-being of doctors, patients, students, and staff within healthcare settings. The new programme will incorporate fire safety drills and evacuation exercises into the house job rotations.

These drills will educate participants on essential safety procedures, including how to handle fire emergencies and execute effective evacuation plans. Dr Taj emphasized that the PMDC will address identified shortcomings in existing fire safety protocols to bolster emergency preparedness. He stressed the importance of strengthening fire safety education and awareness within institutions under the PMDC's regulatory jurisdiction.

The training program will be rolled out across all medical colleges and teaching hospitals, aiming to protect vulnerable patients, house officers, students, healthcare professionals, and other staff members. Dr Taj expressed a keen interest in expanding the fire safety training to medical students, postgraduates, and eventually, all healthcare professionals.

The PMDC's comprehensive fire safety programme for house officers will encompass regular drills and evacuation exercises to cultivate a culture of readiness and swift response. House officers will be trained to identify fire hazards, utilize extinguishers, navigate evacuation routes, and communicate emergencies with clarity.