Two PIMS staff found guilty of selling hazardous waste

The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) administration has suspended three officials after they were found involved in the sale of hazardous waste.

The inquiry report was made public after a three-week investigation into the matter, where the hospital’s hazardous made it to the market instead of incinerators.

The inquiry report submitted by a three-member fact-finding body was submitted to the PIMS executive director who has forwarded it to the health ministry seeking further action against senior officials involved in the malpractice.

The PIMS administration after conducting an inquiry into the matter has entrusted Dr Aziz Bangash with the responsibility of monitoring all matters related to the disposal of waste.

A spokesperson for the PIMS Hospital denied that the matter had been hushed up after an inquiry.

Sources said that the hospital's medical waste worth millions of rupees was being sold in the market daily.

The contract for the disposal of medical waste has been awarded to Worktext Company for which Rs1.4 million per month is paid by the hospital.

PIMS Executive Director Dr Naeem Malik had formed a three-member inquiry committee under the chair of Prof SH Waqar. The inquiry committee recorded the statements of all staff concerned and officials.

According to sources, a sanitary worker and a security staff have been held responsible in the inquiry report while senior officials have been absolved of responsibility. Based on the inquiry report, Sanitary Inspector Shahid Jan Khattak was suspended. Security Assistant Mehboob Abbasi has also been suspended. Sanitary worker Anwar Masih was already suspended by the hospital management.

PIMS Executive Director has appointed Dr Syeda Rana Fatima (director indoor) as head for segregation, disposal and management of infectious and non-infectious waste.

Dr Fatima has also been appointed clinician in charge of the indoor department after the scandal surfaced.

PIMS spokesperson Dr Haider Abbasi said that a transparent inquiry was conducted into the medical waste issue and the report was sent to the health ministry for further action.

He said that a team from the health ministry visited PIMS Hospital on Wednesday. He said that various corrective measures have been taken in light of the inquiry report. Three persons involved in the matter had been suspended.

Dr Haider Abbasi said that several measures have been put in place to make the security department foolproof.

He said that in light of the inquiry report against the higher officials, the health ministry will further take steps on its own.

According to media reports, the inquiry found several discrepancies in the award of the contract to the company concerned with the disposal of hospital waste.

According to sources, owing to the involvement of senior hospital officials, the administration has decided to involve the health ministry rather than taking any direct action.

According to sources, during the probe, it transpired that there were several discrepancies in the award of the contract to the contractor to collect hazardous waste and safely dispose it of in the dedicated incinerator.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2023.