ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has decided to introduce a fire safety education and training programme for house officers in all medical and dental colleges to strengthen emergency preparedness in healthcare institutions.
According to a statement issued on September 5, 2026, the initiative is aimed at improving fire safety awareness and preparedness, besides ensuring the safety and well-being of doctors, patients, students and staff in medical institutions.
PM&DC President Prof Dr Rizwan Taj said the mandatory fire safety training programme would be incorporated into the house job of house officers. He said dedicated training hours would be allocated for fire safety awareness, emergency fire drills, patient safety and appropriate evacuation procedures to be followed in case of a fire emergency.
The council said the decision would follow a comprehensive review of existing fire safety protocols and the identification of areas requiring improvement. PM&DC noted that there was a need to strengthen fire safety education and awareness in institutions under its regulatory umbrella.
The council said it was committed to addressing gaps quickly and improving fire-emergency preparedness among students, healthcare professionals, patients and staff.
All medical colleges and teaching hospitals will be required to ensure vigorous fire safety arrangements and effective emergency preparedness for the protection of students, house officers, patients, healthcare professionals and other staff.
Prof Dr Rizwan Taj said hospitals care for some of the most vulnerable people, who depend on healthcare staff to respond quickly and effectively during a fire emergency. He stressed the need for medical institutions to improve their existing fire prevention and emergency response measures.
The PM&DC president also expressed interest in expanding the training programme to medical students and postgraduates, and eventually to all healthcare professionals, saying fire safety was considered an essential skill for healthcare workers across the globe.
He said PM&DC intended to promote the safest and highest quality learning environments and looked forward to establishing new protocols that focus on emergency preparedness rather than relying solely on emergency response teams.
The council has outlined several measures to be covered under the fire safety programme for medical house officers. These include regular fire safety drills and evacuation exercises in medical colleges and teaching hospitals to develop a culture of preparedness and prompt, effective response.
House officers will also be trained to identify fire hazards, use extinguishers, follow evacuation routes and communicate emergencies effectively.
