Punjab Institute of Cardiology Faces Alarming Mismanagement: SMU Report
Lahore | September 16, 2025
The Chief Minister’s Special Monitoring Unit (SMU) has released a detailed report on the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), Lahore, raising serious concerns over patient care, hospital management, and systemic failures at the province’s largest public cardiac facility.
According to the 22-page report, an unannounced follow-up inspection revealed “administrative collapse and lapses in medical services,” which put the lives of critical cardiac patients at risk.
Key Findings from the SMU Report
The report highlights several areas of concern:
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Essential medicines missing: Patients faced long queues at the OPD pharmacy, with some being redirected without receiving their prescriptions.
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Incomplete medicine distribution: Some patients reported receiving partial supplies instead of the full prescribed dosage.
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Diagnostic delays: Echocardiography waiting times stretched to a month, ultrasounds were repeatedly rescheduled, and CT scans faced long delays.
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Critical care shortages: Only one doctor was available in the emergency room, while cardiac monitors, wheelchairs, and oxygen flow meters were reportedly missing or insufficient.
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Infrastructure issues: Non-functional lifts, poor air conditioning in wards and CCUs, and a shortage of beds and wheelchairs added to patient hardships.
Patient Safety Concerns
The SMU documented individual cases where patients faced delayed treatment, unavailable medicines, or administrative mishandling of medical records. These included bypass surgeries postponed for weeks, delayed angiographies, and critical forms with contradictory entries.
Staff Conduct and Oversight
The report also raised concerns about staff behavior, pointing out instances of medical and nursing staff using mobile phones during duty hours, and administrative inefficiencies within pharmacy and diagnostic departments.
Call for Action
The SMU concluded that immediate corrective measures, strict accountability, and improved hospital management systems are necessary to restore trust in PIC and ensure safe, timely care for cardiac patients.
