Pakistan Moves to Digitize Islamabad’s Public Hospitals After PIMS Tragedy

Pakistan’s federal health ministry has decided to accelerate the digitization of public hospitals in the capital, with plans to introduce technology-driven monitoring, administration, and complaint management systems following the recent tragedy at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

Officials said the initiative is intended to identify weaknesses in hospital operations and improve accountability, service delivery, and administrative oversight through digital tools.

Under the proposed framework, the performance of government hospitals, public complaints, and key administrative functions would be monitored through a centralized digital system. The ministry is also considering moving hospital operations and management processes onto digital platforms to reduce coordination gaps and improve response times.

As part of the initiative, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal met Pakistan Digital Authority Chairman Dr. Sohail Munir to discuss the use of technology in managing public hospitals and improving their overall performance.

The ministry has decided to seek technical support from the Pakistan Digital Authority for the digitization program, with officials exploring how digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence could be integrated into existing hospital systems.

One of the main proposals under consideration is an AI-based complaint management system for public hospitals.

Health ministry officials said AI agents could be deployed to receive and process phone calls from citizens regarding hospital-related complaints. The technology could also be used to automatically register complaints, track their progress, and monitor whether they are resolved within prescribed timelines.

Officials believe the system could make it easier to identify recurring problems at individual hospitals while giving policymakers access to real-time data on patient grievances, administrative performance, and service delivery.

The proposed digitization drive comes amid growing scrutiny of the management of public healthcare facilities in Islamabad following the PIMS incident, which has renewed calls for stronger oversight and institutional reforms.

Authorities said stricter and more effective measures would be introduced to address weaknesses in the public hospital system, with technology expected to play a central role in improving transparency, accountability, and patient services.

If implemented effectively, the initiative could mark a significant shift in how Islamabad’s public hospitals are managed, moving from largely conventional administrative processes toward data-driven and digitally monitored healthcare operations.

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