14 newborns die in PIMS fire as questions mount over hospital oversight

At least 14 newborns lost their lives in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on August 26,

ISLAMABAD: At least 14 newborns lost their lives in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on August 26, triggering a judicial inquiry and raising serious questions about safety measures, staffing shortages and administrative oversight at the federal capital’s largest public-sector hospital.

PIMS functions under the direct administrative control of the Ministry of National Health Services, headed by Federal Minister Mustafa Kamal. The incident has intensified scrutiny over whether the hospital’s financial resources are translating into adequate patient safety and healthcare services.

Official records indicate that the federal government allocated around Rs 22 billion to PIMS during the past three years. Despite substantial funding, the hospital continues to face significant staffing and infrastructure challenges.

During the fiscal year 2024-25, PIMS received an allocation of Rs 6.84 billion but its expenditure reached Rs 7.51 billion, exceeding the original allocation by approximately Rs 670 million. The hospital also received an additional Rs 660 million through supplementary grants.

For the ongoing fiscal year, PIMS has been allocated Rs 7.63 billion. The hospital had previously received Rs 500 million for repair and maintenance, while Rs 230 million has been earmarked for the same purpose this year.

Despite these allocations, hospital records show that 949 sanctioned positions remain vacant. These include 385 doctors, 363 nurses and 201 paramedical staff, highlighting a major human-resource gap in a facility responsible for treating thousands of patients.

The Ministry of National Health Services said Federal Minister Mustafa Kamal took “immediate notice” of the incident and directed authorities to investigate the tragedy.

“The Ministry of National Health Services expresses profound grief over the loss of precious lives,” a ministry spokesperson said in an official statement to Minute Mirror.

The ministry has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to establish the cause of the fire and determine responsibility within 15 days.

According to the statement, the government plans to strengthen safety procedures, prioritize the recruitment of staff and ensure that federal hospitals comply with international patient-care standards. The minister is also monitoring the implementation of emergency reforms at PIMS, the spokesperson said.

Asked about the minister’s recent political engagements concerning the creation of new provinces, the spokesperson maintained that he was fulfilling both his constitutional and party responsibilities, while healthcare reform remained his top priority.

Medical experts said the tragedy should not be viewed simply as a funding issue and warned that inadequate staffing, weak safety systems and insufficient monitoring could contribute to repeated incidents.

“Billions have been allocated, but without filling critical human resource gaps and enforcing safety audits, tragedies will recur,” said Dr. Qaiser Sajjad, former Secretary General of the Pakistan Medical Association.

Civil society representatives outside PIMS also called for a time-bound strategy to fill vacant posts and improve fire-safety arrangements across federal hospitals.

The PIMS tragedy comes amid a broader history of reported negligence in public-sector hospitals. Data compiled from 2016 to 2026 records at least 19 reported negligence-related incidents, including the deaths of 20 children at DHQ Hospital Pakpattan in 2025 and seven patients at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, in 2020 following oxygen-system failures.

The inquiry into the PIMS fire will now face a critical test: whether it merely identifies those responsible or leads to lasting reforms. With Rs 22 billion allocated over three years, questions remain over how effectively these resources have been converted into safer facilities, adequate staffing and improved patient care.