ISLAMABAD: Newly appointed Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Dr Muhammad Salman has pledged to introduce measures aimed at preventing a repeat of incidents that have recently raised serious concerns over patient safety at the hospital.
Speaking to reporters after taking charge on Sunday, Dr Salman said the administration would address shortcomings identified in the inquiry committee’s findings and work towards improving the hospital’s overall services.
Dr Salman was appointed Pims executive director following the suspension of several officials in connection with the August 26 fire in the hospital’s gynaecology ward, which resulted in the deaths of 14 newborns.
According to Pims officials, 15 infants were present in the nursery when the incident occurred, while only one newborn was rescued.
The development came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting on Saturday to review the tragedy, during which the inquiry committee submitted its interim findings.
The prime minister ordered the immediate suspension of eight officials named in the report, including former Pims Executive Director Professor Dr Imran Sikandar, and directed that proceedings be initiated against them.
Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori had also been suspended earlier in connection with the incident.
Dr Salman, who also serves as chief executive officer of the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, has been assigned additional responsibility as Pims executive director on a three-year deputation, according to state media.
He said the hospital administration’s priority would be to improve patient safety, strengthen healthcare services and address operational shortcomings.
“We are making efforts; we will have to provide better and faster services,” Dr Salman said.
Referring to the recent incidents at Pims, he said the administration would formulate a comprehensive strategy to ensure such events do not recur.
Dr Salman acknowledged that Pims was dealing with a substantial patient burden and said efforts would be made to expand and improve facilities for the large number of people seeking treatment at the hospital.
He added that the Pims administration would approach the health ministry to seek additional resources and better facilities for patients.
