PIMS administration to enhance security at hospital

Decides to cancel the contract of security firm, impose penalties as culprit is caught

ISLAMABAD: After reports that two doctors were reportedly robbed at gunpoint inside the hospital, prompting protests from its medical corps, the largest tertiary care hospital in the federal capital has decided to undertake measures to improve security at the facility.

The first step in that regard has been to terminate the contract of a private security firm hired to guard the facility and its staff.

Despite the presence of guards from the private security firm, Rangers, rescue officials and the guards on the payroll of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences’ (Pims), an armed criminal had managed to gain entry to the facility and looted two doctors early on Tuesday morning.

The robbery — and an alleged assault on a doctor — had prompted young doctors employed at the facility to partially boycott their duties in the outpatient departments and stage a protest against the hospital administration for two days.

On Wednesday, the protesting doctors had given the hospital administration 72 hours to enhance security at the health facility.

On Thursday, the Pims Executive Director Dr Amjad Mehmood held a meeting at the hospital with representatives of all stakeholders.

During the meeting, it was decided that a new firm will be hired to provide security for the facility. In this regard, a security committee will be constituted which will review the robbery and provide recommendations on engaging a new security firm for the fiscal year 2018-19.

The tender for hiring the firm will be published in the national press.

This security committee will remain in place permanently and will hold weekly meetings to review security arrangements at the hospital and point out deficiencies.



In Thursday’s meeting, officials complained that no security guards were on duty in either the new or the main emergency department of the hospital. A few other unguarded spots in the hospital were also pointed out by members of the security committee in their report.

It was decided that the hospital’s purchasing director would write to the security company with their observations and demand disciplinary action as per their contract agreement, including the imposition of a fine.

The doctors complained that drug addicts and some illegal occupants have occupied some under construction buildings of the hospital and that they pose a danger to hospital visitors and staff.  It was thus decided that all such illegal occupants will be immediately evicted.

They also agreed to increase the number of security guards in the hospital, with one deputed in each ward.Moreover, it was decided that no attendant or patient would be allowed to enter a ward without a security pass.

Anyone found roaming the wards without a security pass or with no patient to attend to would be handed over to the police.



It was further decided that all gates of the wards will be locked by 11 pm.

To respond to any security situation in the hospital, a rapid response force will be created, comprising three to four personnel. Their phone numbers will be clearly displayed in each ward for easy contacts.

Further, to ensure their security, locks and bells will be installed in the rooms of lady doctors and nurses since these rooms can be easily approached by attendants.

To enhance security monitoring in the hospital, an additional 25 closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) will be installed in various places.

After the hospital administration approved the new security measures, the young doctors resumed their work in the outpatient department.

However, they continued to wear black armbands to protest the unsafe environment of the hospital.

They have been demanding action against the Pims security guards and the officials who are actually responsible for this security lapse.

Culprit caught

Later on Thursday, news came that the police, who have been investigating the robbery, have managed to catch the man involved in the incident.

Officials had arrested 24-year-old Wajid. The youngster has a long criminal record, having been nominated in nine separate police reports.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2018.