By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Former PIMS neurosurgeon Professor Dr. Khaleeq-uz-Zaman, who served at the hospital for nearly three decades, has raised serious concerns over patient safety standards and emergency preparedness in Pakistan’s public healthcare system.
“Today, our heads are bowed in shame before the world,” Dr. Khaleeq-uz-Zaman said while expressing his concerns over what he described as major shortcomings in hospital safety and emergency-response mechanisms.
He said hospitals around the world follow structured patient-safety and quality-management systems, including internationally recognized ISO standards, to establish clear procedures and responsibilities during medical emergencies, accidents and other critical situations.
Dr. Khaleeq-uz-Zaman claimed that Pakistan’s government hospitals lack adequate implementation of such internationally recognized certification and safety-management systems, leaving healthcare staff without sufficiently standardized protocols for responding to emergencies and unexpected incidents.
The former PIMS neurosurgeon called for urgent reforms, including internationally recognized hospital safety standards, clearly defined emergency protocols, regular staff training and stronger accountability mechanisms to protect patients and improve the quality of public healthcare.
His remarks have renewed questions over whether Pakistan’s major public hospitals are adequately prepared to respond to medical emergencies and prevent avoidable risks to patients.
