Dr Salman repatriated to NIH as Tanveer Khaliq gets PIMS charge

ISLAMABAD: Dr Muhammad Salman has been removed as executive director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), with the federal government assigning Prof Dr Tanveer Khaliq temporary charge of the post.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of National Health Services, Dr Salman’s services have been repatriated to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Prof Dr Tanveer Khaliq, vice chancellor of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, has been given the additional charge of PIMS executive director for three months or until the appointment of a regular executive director, whichever is earlier.

Dr Salman, who was serving as chief executive officer of the NIH, was appointed executive director of PIMS in the aftermath of the fatal fire at the hospital’s neonatal nursery on August 26. He was posted to PIMS on deputation after the government suspended the hospital’s then executive director, Prof Dr Imran Sikandar, and several other officials following the tragedy.

PIMS fire background

The fire broke out in the neonatal nursery of PIMS’ Mother and Child Hospital on Aug 26, killing 14 newborns. The sole infant rescued from the burning nursery by staff nurse Razia Noreen later died during treatment, taking the death toll to 15.

An inquiry into the incident found serious institutional and fire-safety failures at the hospital. The interim report said the nursery lacked a fire alarm and sprinkler system, while emergency response and evacuation arrangements were inadequate. It also noted that the ward had been engulfed by the fire within about two minutes and that emergency services were contacted several minutes after the blaze became visible.

The inquiry committee recommended the suspension of eight officials and initiation of departmental and criminal proceedings. The government also ordered action against the private security company deployed at PIMS.

The detailed inquiry subsequently concluded that the tragedy involved systemic and institutional failures, including inadequate safety measures, shortcomings in emergency response and failures to address known risks.

The government has also honoured nurse Razia Noreen for rescuing the infant from the burning nursery. She was awarded a Rs10 million cash reward, while President Asif Ali Zardari later approved the conferment of the Tamgha-i-Shujaat on her.