PIMS Burn Centre Moves Towards Major Upgrade After Key Surgical Gains
ISLAMABAD: The Burn Centre at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has recorded significant progress in burn, plastic and reconstructive surgery, strengthening its position as a leading facility for specialised clinical care.
The centre, headed by Professor Dr Abdul Khaliq Malik, has carried out thousands of complicated procedures during the last two years with the support of a dedicated team of more than 25 doctors.
According to details, the centre’s work covers acute burn management, early surgical excision, sensitive skin grafting and complex reconstruction of the face, hands and other severely affected parts of the body.
To further improve services, a PC-I worth around Rs1 billion has been prepared for the comprehensive upgradation of plastic and reconstructive surgery facilities. The plan includes modern medical equipment, expanded infrastructure and the induction of additional qualified medical and nursing staff.
The centre has also received international support, including donations from doctors based in the United States and the United Kingdom worth over Rs20 million. The donated equipment includes five ventilators, an anaesthesia machine and specialised skin-harvesting instruments.
General (retd) Azhar Kiyani, Adviser to the Prime Minister, and Professor Tanveer Khaliq, Head of PIMS Hospital, played an important role in facilitating this international assistance.
Medical experts and stakeholders have also underlined the need for immediate revision of the Burn Centre’s faculty service rules by the Ministry of National Health Services so that the institution’s clinical and academic standards can be aligned with global practices.
At present, the existing rules allow non-specialised general surgeons without prior teaching experience to take up important academic leadership positions, including Assistant Professor and Associate Professor.
Experts say the service criteria should be updated to require postgraduate qualifications in plastic and reconstructive surgery, along with relevant clinical and teaching experience, to bring PIMS in line with international best practices.
The PIMS Board of Governors has recognised the achievements of the existing team. Officials and experts believe that early government approval of the Rs1 billion PC-I, together with timely changes in service rules by the ministry, will help protect clinical standards, strengthen academic excellence and ensure quality specialised care for patients across the region.
