ISLAMABAD, September 25 — The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) is preparing to overhaul its disaster management arrangements and introduce a tested emergency notification and incident-command system aimed at ensuring faster responses to fires and other emergencies.
According to an official document available with Wealth Pakistan, the initiative follows recommendations by the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination to strengthen safety and emergency-response arrangements at the federal capital’s major public hospital.
PIMS has constituted a committee to review its existing Disaster Management Plan (DMP) and develop improved arrangements under specified terms of reference.
A key proposal involves establishing a tested emergency notification and incident-command protocol. Under the proposed system, detection of a fire would simultaneously activate internal alarms, mobilise designated emergency responders and directly alert CES/Rescue 1122.
The mechanism is designed to reduce reliance on informal communication passing through multiple administrative layers and ensure emergency services are activated without unnecessary delays.
PIMS has forwarded the proposed corrective measures to senior officials for implementation as part of a broader institutional effort to improve disaster preparedness and coordination across its facilities.
The hospital is also considering comprehensive fire and life-safety as well as electrical audits, particularly in high-risk clinical areas such as neonatal intensive care units, nurseries, intensive care units and operating theatres.
Internal fire-audit committees have already been constituted for several major PIMS facilities, including Islamabad Hospital and Cardiac Centre, Children’s Hospital, MCH/JICA Extension, BCC and FBCSC, and CMT/SON/CON.
According to the document, PIMS also plans to conduct monthly fire-safety training sessions and evacuation drills for hospital staff.
Fire-training instructors would be responsible for providing personnel with practical firefighting and fire-safety training to improve their ability to respond during emergencies.
The planned measures are aimed at creating a more structured and coordinated emergency-response framework at PIMS, with an emphasis on early notification, rapid mobilisation, staff preparedness and closer coordination with external emergency responders.