Former head of PIMS burn centre in Pakistan seeks inquiry — Dawn
Professor Tariq Iqbal, the former head of the burn centre at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, has asked federal health authorities to conduct an independent inquiry into the alleged deterioration of the specialized centre. He said that changes to the institution’s structure and operations after his retirement had negatively affected care for burn patients.
As Dawn reports, Iqbal worked at PIMS for 35 years in clinical and administrative positions and also served as vice chancellor of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University. According to him, he established the burn centre, which was opened by the president of Pakistan in December 2007. The facility operated as a specialized burn treatment centre and a training base for postgraduate specialization in burn surgery.
Claims of changes to the centre’s operations
In a letter to the federal health minister, Iqbal claims that after his retirement, the official name of the burn centre was changed to plastic and reconstructive surgery. He also alleged that specialized equipment worth millions of rupees was dismantled and that the premises were redesigned, including the conversion of areas with patient beds into offices.
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The former head of the centre also said that the postgraduate training programme in burn surgery had been discontinued. He claims that the facility is now mainly staffed by junior doctors, while mortality and infection rates have reached alarming levels.
Appeal to the ministry
Iqbal questioned the appointment of the centre’s head, saying that the current head allegedly lacks the necessary experience in burn care and does not meet the criteria of the Federal Public Service Commission. He asked the ministry to identify those responsible for the changes and assess their impact on patient treatment and professional training.
A senior official at the Ministry of National Health Services confirmed receipt of the letter but declined to comment on its content. He said that such appeals are considered seriously and forwarded to the relevant bodies for comments and explanations.
