ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) ad hoc system has been blamed for the deaths of at least four patients in the hospital’s emergency ward over the past two days due to suffocating heat, according to hospital doctors who also organised a protest on Saturday.

These patients were taken to the emergency room for a variety of health conditions, including heatstroke, but they died after their ailments were exacerbated by the ward’s non-functional air conditioning equipment, according to the doctors

They also complained about the hospital’s suffocating heat, which was “killing the patients and also making it impossible for doctors to work” in the emergency department.

Due to the heat, some of the attendees fainted.

Later, the doctors met with the executive director (ED), but were unhappy to learn that the problem could not be resolved immediately.

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The hospital is experiencing a lack of X-ray films, which doctors attribute to a “ad hoc system.”

Furthermore, because X-ray films were not available in the hospital, patients were instructed to take photographs and present them to the doctors. Unfortunately, the vast majority of patients who arrived at the hospital from remote locations lacked smartphones.

Dr Mubashir Daha, spokesperson for the ED, stated that efforts were underway to address the issue, since existing emergency air conditioners were unplugged due to the ‘heating, ventilation, and air conditioning’ (HVAC) system, which would be installed by June 30. He stated that the lack of X-ray films would be rectified soon

Suffocating heat at the emergency department

A doctor assigned to the hospital’s emergency department, who did not want to be mentioned, stated that the suffocating climate in the emergency department was exacerbating patients’ medical conditions, and that four patients had died as a result of this factor in the previous 48 hours.

“I believe all four of them could have survived if the hospital’s air conditioning system had been operational.” “It was nearly impossible for the patients to breathe due to the suffocating heat,” the doctor stated, adding, “Currently, even a healthy person cannot spend an hour in the emergency department.” Imagine how patients would feel in this situation.”

He stated that on Saturday morning, doctors protested the situation in front of the administrative building, and that they were later called by management, who instructed them that they should deal with the situation since attempts were being made to get the HVAC system as soon as possible.

“Unfortunately, Pims does not have a permanent executive director, so things are not being streamlined.” “The improvised system has been killing the patients,” he claimed.

According to a doctor, at least 70 of the hospital’s air conditioners were removed in recent years to make way for the HVAC system. During the demonstration, doctors also requested that the administration return the air conditioners that had gone missing following their removal.

Another doctor stated that the air conditioning was not working in various areas, including emergency, ICU, and other wards. “Because of the ad hoc system, there is no one to take a stand to resolve hospital issues,” he added, adding that the heat wave exacerbated patient complications.

“Because the hospital also lacks X-ray films, a number of patients are told to take a screenshot of the X-ray from the screen and show it to the doctor,” he explained. “However, a large number of patients and their attendants lacked smartphones.”

“It is unfortunate that the city’s largest hospital lacks a cooling system,” he added, adding that urine culture and blood image tests were also discouraged due to a scarcity of kits. “We appeal to the health minister to intervene and ensure that the patients do not die of heat,” he said.

Dr. Daha, the ED’s spokesperson, stated that the Public Works Department was installing the HVAC system and that “one can imagine how public sector departments work.” “Unfortunately, the majority of existing air conditioners have been removed in order to install the new system,” he said, adding that the HVAC system would be installed by June 30, as required by the PWD. In response to another query, Dr. Daha stated that, despite the hospital’s request of 700 films every day, the vendor only provided 500 x-ray films.

“As a result, approximately 200 patients are advised to take X-ray snapshots to show doctors the results.” The films are no longer available because the LCs (Letters of Credit) were not opened.”