Senate body says concerned over failure of health ministry

The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services and Regulations expressed serious concerns on Monday regarding the Health Ministry's inability to file a criminal case against officials responsible for the fire incident at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) children's nursery, where 14 newborns tragically lost their lives.

During the meeting, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri criticized the Health Ministry and other relevant parties for their failure to register an FIR, or First Information Report, against the culprits. The Committee members were informed that a letter had been sent to the Ministry of Interior requesting the registration of an FIR. The PIMS administration and Health Ministry officials stated that the 14 bodies had been handed over to their families, with identification bands and written names remaining intact despite the flames.

However, the Committee found this claim questionable, and directed that an FIR be registered against the responsible officers, with the names placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) in accordance with the law. The Committee also reviewed the "Islamabad Healthcare Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026," noting that the proposed provisions were already part of the existing Act but not implemented.

The matter of Balochistan students facing difficulties at Health Services Academy (HAS) was discussed, with the Federal Minister for National Health Services and Regulations informing the Committee that the Nursing Council had resolved the issue in coordination with the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The Committee directed the Health Ministry to ensure the timely payment of stipends to nursing students serving as interns at Federal Government Polyclinics, and to issue a public notice regarding the BDS programme's duration to be four years plus one year of house job.