NICH fire incident was the “result of negligence”, health minister

Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal says explains the fire incident as the “result of negligence”.

A child was burned as the incubator caught fire at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH).

The health department has formed a four-member inquiry committee that has written a letter to the institute’s director.

They have asked the director to explain his position over the incident and poor response by staff.

Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho said, “They are saying that the fire erupted in an incubator that burnt the child. This is very, very unfortunate and sad. I am feeling so much shame that I can’t talk with the parents because this is negligence,”

However, health practitioners have mocked Dr. Azra for quoting her own conclusion.
A senior doctor said,

“What’s the purpose of setting up the inquiry committee if the minister was so sure that it was a ‘clear case of negligence’

The committee has written a letter to the director to interrogate regarding the incident.
It was written in the letter, “The fire incident took place at 6.22 am as per available CCTV footage but the response by the NICH director was so casual and lethargic that he arrived at the facility at 8.30 am. Likewise, other administrative staff, including the additional director, arrived at 8.30 am and 9 am,”

“The incubators require 24/7-hour invigilation but there was no significant staff in the incubators’ room to properly respond to any emergency,”

“The warranty of the burnt incubator had expired, and no service agreement was concluded with the supplier, service provider for inspection/maintenance of the incubator. The NICH didn’t issue any schedule of inspection/maintenance of the incubators,”