Key Facts

• A fire broke out early Wednesday in the neonatal ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.
• The fire killed 14 babies; only one baby was rescued from the 15 in the ward.
• Eight officials, including hospital directors and doctors, were suspended following the incident.
• The hospital had weak fire safety protocols, with only two out of 13 standard procedures addressing emergencies.
• Supervisory staff were not present at the time of the fire, with only two nurses, a security guard, and one house officer in the ward.
• Emergency services were called six minutes after the fire started and arrived 15 minutes later.
• A previous fire occurred at a hospital hostel a month earlier but did not lead to safety improvements.
• A nurse who rescued one child was honored with a national award and a cash prize by the prime minister.
• The government pledged compensation of about $17,700 for each affected family and supported a broader investigation into the health system.