Fire safety measures incomplete at Islamabad’s Major Public hospital Polyclinic after PIMS

A Capital Development Authority (CDA) fire audit has revealed serious shortcomings in fire and life safety arrangements at Polyclinic one of Islamabad’s major public-sector hospitals.

A Capital Development Authority (CDA) fire audit has revealed serious shortcomings in fire and life safety arrangements at Polyclinic one of Islamabad’s major public-sector hospitals. The audit identified 34 fire and life safety deficiencies at the hospital.

The audit report found that several important sections of Polyclinic do not have proper emergency exits. It also noted that multiple emergency routes were either blocked or obstructed, potentially making evacuation difficult in the event of a fire or other emergency.

The CDA fire audit also identified a gas leakage near the hospital’s main kitchen and directed the administration to take immediate corrective measures.

According to the report, Polyclinic does not have an automatic fire detection system or a manual fire alarm system. The hospital also lacks essential firefighting facilities including sprinklers hose reels wet risers and a yard hydrant system.

The audit further revealed that there are no dedicated underground or rooftop water tanks for firefighting purposes. The electrical wiring at the hospital was also described as being in extremely poor condition raising additional safety concerns.

The report highlighted serious concerns regarding the evacuation of patients from critical care units. It stated that adequate arrangements are not available for evacuating patients from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Coronary Care Unit (CCU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The audit also found that Polyclinic does not have a proper emergency and evacuation plan. The absence of adequate evacuation arrangements is particularly concerning in critical care areas, where many patients may be unable to move without assistance during an emergency.

The findings come after fire safety concerns were also reported at PIMS Hospital, another major government hospital in Islamabad. The latest CDA audit has therefore raised further questions about the preparedness of Islamabad’s public hospitals to deal with fire emergencies and protect patients, healthcare workers and visitors.

The report has called for corrective measures to address the identified deficiencies and improve fire and life safety arrangements at Polyclinic.