Summary Health Minister visited PIMS after a tragic incident that claimed the lives of 14 children, offering condolences to their grieving families
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal visited the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) after a tragic incident that claimed the lives of 14 children, offering condolences to their grieving families and reviewing the situation at the hospital.
Speaking to the media, Kamal described the incident as “an extremely heartbreaking tragedy” and vowed that anyone found responsible for negligence would face punishment under the law.
According to preliminary findings, the incident occurred at 6:38 a.m., when a flame reportedly emerged from inside an air-conditioning unit.
Video recorded a minute later showed people evacuating the room, the minister said.
Kamal said 15 children were on oxygen when the incident occurred, while four children in an adjacent room were rescued.
He said a detailed investigation was under way and its findings would be shared with the media.
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The minister said he had offered himself for accountability and acknowledged that the hospital had problems.
He added that a comprehensive report was expected within two to three days and that those found responsible would not be spared.
Asked about his resignation over the incident, Kamal said that prime minister is his boss and he has the final authority in this regard.
Kamal also recalled past incidents involving the theft of children from the hospital’s pediatric ward, saying security measures had since been tightened.
Meanwhile, relatives of the deceased children protested during the minister’s media talk, expressing anger and accusing authorities of turning the tragedy into a spectacle.
