PIMS doctors have urged parliamentary committees to address leadership gaps, strengthen accountability and order an independent forensic audit of hospital finances.
ISLAMABAD: The deaths of 14 newborns at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) have prompted doctors to demand permanent leadership for all Gynecology units and an independent forensic audit of the hospital’s financial affairs.
The demands come ahead of separate emergency meetings of the Senate and National Assembly Standing Committees on National Health Services on Monday. According to official documents, the Senate committee is scheduled to visit PIMS at noon, while the National Assembly committee will meet at 2 p.m. at Parliament House.
In a written submission to the parliamentary committees, doctors from the Gynecology and Children’s departments highlighted what they described as a leadership gap in the Gynecology Department, which has four units.
According to the doctors, only Unit 1 currently has a permanent professor serving as head, while Units 2, 3 and 4 are operating without permanent BS-20 professors.
The doctors acknowledged that the absence of permanent leadership does not, by itself, establish a direct connection to the newborn deaths. However, they said a department handling a heavy patient load requires a clear chain of command, responsibility and accountability, particularly during emergencies.
They called for eligible BS-20 professors to be appointed as heads of all four units through a transparent, merit-based process and through the Federal Public Service Commission.
The doctors also questioned why the Surgery Department has permanent heads for all four units while the Gynecology Department continues to operate without permanent leadership in three units despite its substantial patient burden.
They further sought an independent review of administrative decisions related to the restructuring of Gynecology and the implementation of recommendations associated with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Questions have also been raised about the legal and administrative authority under which major policy decisions were allegedly taken by a single head of department.
Although Dr. Shamaela has reportedly been given temporary responsibility for Gynecology, the doctors said temporary arrangements cannot provide a lasting solution for a department serving thousands of patients.
Forensic audit sought
The doctors have also demanded a comprehensive third-party forensic audit of PIMS finances, covering hospital budgets and expenditures, procurement procedures, tenders, purchases of medicines and medical equipment, service contracts and decisions made by relevant committees over several years.
They said an independent audit could determine whether financial irregularities, avoidable expenditure or violations of procurement rules occurred, while stressing that any allegations of wrongdoing should only be confirmed after a full examination of official records.
The Senate Secretariat, in a notice issued Aug. 27, said its committee would examine the deaths of children at PIMS, focusing on medical, pediatric and emergency services, compliance with medical protocols, administrative shortcomings and the institution’s response.
The committee is headed by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, with Senators Anusha Rahman, Rubina Khalid, Azam Swati and other members participating.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services will hold its 42nd meeting to receive a detailed briefing from the Ministry of National Health Services on the recent fire at the Mother and Child Healthcare Centre at PIMS.
The committee, chaired by Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, is also expected to examine the inquiry report and its findings.
The Ministry of Health has taken action against several officials following the fire inquiry, but doctors argue that disciplinary measures alone will not address deeper institutional weaknesses.
They have also raised concerns about the implementation of facilities and systems established with JICA assistance, saying the administrative and academic arrangements envisioned for the Gynecology Department have not been fully implemented.
The parliamentary proceedings are expected to examine broader issues of institutional governance, leadership, financial oversight and patient safety alongside the immediate circumstances surrounding the deaths and fire.
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