PIMS tragedy prompts Islamabad Health Authority to review safety measures

ISLAMABAD: Following the PIMS tragedy, the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) has directed healthcare facilities across the capital to review and strengthen their fire and life-safety arrangements.

The regulatory authority has issued a formal directive to healthcare facilities, asking them to reassess their existing fire protection and life-safety measures and ensure compliance with modern safety standards.

The IHRA has instructed healthcare facilities to take all necessary steps to protect patients, staff and visitors. Facilities have also been directed to obtain fire-safety NOCs from the CDA Fire Department and have fire-protection systems installed by registered contractors.

Under the new directives, healthcare facilities must ensure the installation and proper functioning of essential life-safety equipment, including fire detection systems, alarms, fire suppression systems, hydrants and fire extinguishers.

The authority has also ordered healthcare facilities to ensure that emergency exits are available, clearly accessible and fully operational.

In addition, healthcare staff must receive appropriate life-safety training, while regular emergency drills are to be conducted to prepare employees for potential fire and other emergencies.

Healthcare facilities have further been directed to have their fire-protection systems tested and submit testing reports to the IHRA.

They must also provide implementation reports detailing the steps taken to comply with the authority’s life-safety requirements.

The IHRA has given healthcare facilities seven days to complete the required life-safety measures and submit their compliance reports.

The authority said it will conduct inspections of healthcare facilities to assess compliance with the directives. It warned that strict action will be taken against facilities that fail to implement the prescribed life-safety measures.