Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has said that, as the health minister, he considers himself responsible for the tragic incident at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and has presented himself for accountability.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Kamal called on the opposition to form its own committee to investigate the incident. However, he stressed that the matter should not be confined to committees and deadlines and that practical steps must be proposed to address fundamental weaknesses in the country’s healthcare system.
The health minister acknowledged that Pakistan’s healthcare system is far from ideal and requires major reforms. He said a large number of children die across the country every day, including many deaths that could potentially be prevented.
Kamal said the PIMS incident must be thoroughly investigated and that no one responsible would be spared. He urged the opposition to review the investigation report once it is released and identify any shortcomings.
He also stressed that the PIMS tragedy should be used as an opportunity to introduce reforms aimed at preventing similar incidents and saving lives in the future. According to him, simply removing officials and replacing them with others would not solve the underlying problems; the system itself needs to be improved.
The minister said a report from the committee constituted by the prime minister was expected soon, after which action would be taken against those found responsible.
