Health Minister Nadeem Jan has offered his resignation and demanded an independent inquiry following the death of a patient at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The move comes as public outrage mounts over alleged negligence at the capital’s largest public hospital.
The incident triggered a wave of protests from the victim’s family and civil society groups, who claim the patient was denied timely emergency care. Critics argue the tragedy is symptomatic of a systemic collapse in Islamabad’s healthcare infrastructure, where overcrowding and staff shortages have become the norm.
“I am ready to face any inquiry,” Jan told reporters in Islamabad today. “If my presence is a hurdle to a transparent investigation, I am prepared to step aside immediately.”
The minister’s offer, while bold, has drawn a mixed response. Supporters view it as a rare instance of ministerial accountability in a political culture that rarely sees officials accept responsibility for institutional failures. Opponents, however, dismiss it as a tactical retreat meant to deflect pressure from the hospital’s senior administration.
Hospital records show that the emergency department has been operating at nearly double its capacity for months. With limited beds and a dwindling supply of essential medicines, doctors on the ground say they are often forced to choose between patients—a reality that Jan’s ministry has struggled to address despite repeated warnings from medical associations.
A three-member committee has been formed to audit the incident. Their report is expected within 72 hours.
The investigation now faces a narrow window to restore public trust. If the inquiry stops at the junior staff level, the minister’s offer of accountability will likely be viewed as little more than political theater. Whether this results in a structural overhaul of PIMS or merely a change in leadership remains to be seen—but for the families waiting in the hospital’s crowded corridors, the stakes have never been higher.
