Pims starts referring serious gynae cases to Polyclinic, hospitals in Rawalpindi

• Holy Family Hospital receives eight patients as MS says no rush in gynae, paediatrics wards • BBH ready to cope with patients ISLAMABAD: Following the incident in which 14 newborn babies died, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) has made temporary arrangements to refer serious gynaecological cases to Polyclinic and other hospitals in Rawalpindi. As many as seven gynaecological patients and a child were shifted from Pims to Holy Family Hospital (HFH). “We have a no-refusal policy, due to which all cases are accepted at the hospital. “However, as the nursery has been burnt and it will take some time to renovate and carry out repair work, it has been decided to refer very serious cases to other hospitals, ” said a senior gynaecologist, who was not authorised to speak to the media. She said that even on Thursday, there had been three or four deliveries at Pims that could be considered serious, but the hospital realised that other hospitals could not take the load if Pims started referring every case. Newly-appointed Secretary Health Mohammad Mehmood, while talking to mediapersons, said that he had started efforts to bring in new technology to address the issues. “The infrastructure should be at an international level and governance should also be improved. I am new and do not understand the health sector, but my job is administration and I can do it. There are good and bad people in the hospital and they will give me suggestions. I have decided to sit in Pims so that I can understand the problems. I have additional charge of the health ministry and will try my best to address the issues, ” he said. He said that he would run the ministry from Pims and remain at the hospital most of the time. When asked how it would be possible, Mr Mehmood said that it was the era of technology and everything was possible. “I can go out of Pims to attend important meetings, such as meetings chaired by the prime minister, but then again will come to Pims, ” he said. Meanwhile, HFH Medical Superintendent Dr Ijaz Butt told Dawn that four female patients had been referred to the hospital by Pims management for treatment. He said there was no rush in the gynae and paediatrics wards of the hospital and they would manage the patients. He said the hospital had made special arrangements for the patients shifted from Pims and appointed an additional medical superintendent for coordination. He said the staff had been asked to admit patients coming from Pims. He said a special ward had been prepared to accommodate the patients, with doctors and nurses appointed to look after them. He said the hospital building had been constructed two years earlier and all the new equipment installed was in working condition. He said the latest mock exercise for fire safety was held on August 24 to train the staff by Rescue 1122. He said Wasa would install water hydrants at six points in the hospital, which had been lacking in the past. On the other hand, Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) did not receive any patients. However, BBH Medical Superintendent Dr Sharjeel Sheikh told Dawn that a special desk had been formed to receive patients, but no patient had been referred so far. He said that for humanitarian purposes, he contacted the Dean of the Gynae and Paeds Department of Pims and asked them to shift the patients. He said the Pims administration thanked them and said it would send the patients. “We will deal only with emergency patients from Pims and in this regard, arrangements have been made in the emergency department, ” he said. He said they had checked all the fire equipment in the hospital and found it to be in working condition. He said the hospital’s last mock exercise was held on August 8. Regarding water hydrants, he said Wasa had visited the hospital and recommended two points immediately and six more around the hospital in the coming days. Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2026

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