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LAHORE, Jul 23 (APP):The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has issued a directive requiring all public sector hospitals to implement an emergency code system aligned with international standards.
To support this initiative, an orientation session titled Guidelines on Hospital Emergency Codes was held on Wednesday, chaired by PHC Chief Executive Officer Dr Muhammad Saqib Aziz. The session focused on enhancing understanding of hospital emergency codes and establishing standardised procedures, with emphasis on code blue (medical emergency), code red (fire), and code pink (child abduction).
In his opening remarks, Dr Saqib Aziz highlighted the critical need for standardised emergency protocols to improve patient safety and care outcomes. He noted that the absence of such protocols has led to adverse incidents in hospitals. The PHC’s guidelines outline ten standardised codes for medical emergencies, and Dr. Aziz stressed the importance of staff training, public address systems, command centers, and response review committees for effective implementation. He urged hospitals to develop implementation roadmaps in line with PHC guidelines, reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to enhancing patient safety and quality care across Punjab.
Guest speaker Dr. Taarif Hussain Warraich, an Emergency Medicine Physician (MD, ABEM), shared insights into international code blue protocols, identifying gaps in trained personnel and equipment. He emphasized that locally adapted protocols could effectively address these challenges. Participants agreed that medical universities should lead in developing training modules and offering accredited certifications to build institutional capacity. Prof. Khalid Gondal, Vice-Chancellor of Fatima Jinnah Medical University and Convener of PHC’s Technical Advisory Committee, noted that the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) has already integrated emergency management into its training programs.
Experts recommended that hospitals assess their specific needs to create customized emergency plans and develop local training materials tailored to Pakistan’s healthcare context, rather than relying on imported resources. The session saw active participation from vice-chancellors, principals, chief executives, medical superintendents, and senior faculty members from across Punjab. Notable attendees included Prof. Dr. Zafar Ali Chaudhary (VC Faisalabad Medical University), Prof. Dr. Farooq Afzal (Principal Ameer-ud-Din Medical College), Prof. Zohra Khanam (Principal SIMS), and Prof. Soufia Farrukh (Principal Quaid-e-Azam Medical College Bahawalpur).
The PHC’s initiative marks a significant step toward standardizing emergency response systems to ensure safer and more effective healthcare delivery in Punjab’s public hospitals.