Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to complete proposed short-term measures to improve Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), including fire safety and hospital systems, within three months.
The directives were issued during a meeting chaired by the prime minister in Islamabad to review a roadmap for improving PIMS. The meeting reviewed the PIMS inquiry report and a performance audit conducted by the Ministry of National Health Services.
The prime minister directed that all short-term measures recommended in the inquiry report be implemented within three months. He also called for steps to bring PIMS in line with international standards.
He directed the authorities to seek assistance and recommendations from the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) for improving the hospital’s fire safety system.
The prime minister also ordered authorities to examine recommendations in the World Health Organization (WHO) report and ensure their implementation.
He directed that the roadmap should include measures to ensure the availability of medicines and free provision of hospital facilities. He also called for the appointment of personnel with a good reputation to improve PIMS.
The prime minister further ordered the preparation of a comprehensive long-term plan for the improvement of PIMS.
The meeting was informed that PIMS achieved only 39.7 percent compliance against a target of 90 percent across the indicators assessed in its performance audit.
Officials said 37 measures recommended in the PIMS inquiry report were being implemented on an immediate basis. The meeting was also briefed on short-, medium- and long-term measures for improving the hospital.
The prime minister also directed that an audit of Polyclinic Hospital be conducted to identify and address irregularities, along with a plan for its restructuring.
He instructed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to ensure compliance with fire safety requirements at all public and private hospitals in Islamabad.
The CDA and relevant institutions were also directed to conduct fire safety audits of public and private offices and buildings in the capital and ensure implementation of the required safety measures.
Federal ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ahsan Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar and Syed Mustafa Kamal, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Mukhtar Ahmed Bharth and senior officials attended the meeting.
