FIA should investigate sale of infectious waste at Pims: report.

ISLAMABAD -- The inquiry report regarding sale of infectious waste by employees of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) has recommended involving the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for further investigation.

The inquiry report was submitted by a three-member fact-finding committee, headed by professor of General Surgery Dr S.H. Waqar with directions to submit a report in 48 hours.

As many as three lower grade officials have been suspended and Ministry of Health has been requested to start proceedings under efficiency and discipline (E and D) rules against two officers of higher grades.

The matter regarding contract of the company, which is responsible to collect and incinerate infectious waste, will be taken with the Punjab government as this same company is collecting waste in health facilities of Punjab. However, further payment to the second company, which is local and responsible for collection of non-infectious waste, has been stopped.

Three lower grade officers suspended

Dr Aziz Bangash has been given the responsibility to supervise the collection of infectious waste and incineration.

The executive director (ED) of Pims Dr Naeem Malik has claimed that he decided to show zero tolerance over the corruption and will go to any extent to make the hospital and staff patient-friendly.

On Feb 27, a vendor hired by the Pims administration to incinerate medical waste on the hospital premises was found involved in the sale of infectious material, such as discarded syringes and blood bags along with hospital employees.

On March 1, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also took notice of this matter and issued directions for an independent inquiry to be conducted and for a report to be submitted within two days - instead of an internal inquiry.

Later, the National Assembly's Standing Committee on National Health Services also took notice of the matter.

A senior officer of Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) said that initially all responsibility was put on a sanitation worker due to which, the hospital was directed to hold a transparent inquiry and send a report in which all responsible persons would be nominated and action against them would be suggested.

'Finally, the inquiry report has landed in the ministry and we will take appropriate action as per recommendations of the report,' he said.

Meanwhile, according to...