Health & Policy | August 2026 | 5 min read
⚡ Quick Takeaways
- Punjab will develop standard SOPs for nursery and neonatology units in public hospitals.
- A working group led by Prof. Dr. Masood Sadiq will prepare the standards.
- The SOPs will cover newborn admission, discharge, fire safety and emergency evacuation.
- Doctors, nurses and support staff will receive training models for safer emergency response.
- The group has been asked to submit recommendations within seven days.
Punjab’s planned rules aim to make newborn care units safer and better prepared after renewed concern over hospital fire safety.
| 7 days Deadline for recommendations |
3 areas Fire, electrical and evacuation risks |
All units Nursery and neonatology standards |
Punjab Moves to Standardise Newborn Units
The Punjab government has decided to prepare standard operating procedures for nursery and neonatology units in public hospitals to improve newborn care and reduce avoidable safety risks. The move covers clinical management and administrative control, so hospitals follow clearer rules for how these sensitive units are run.
The decision comes at a time when hospital emergency preparedness is under sharper public scrutiny. Recent reporting on the PIMS fire in Islamabad found major weaknesses in safety systems and emergency response, making neonatal care a priority area for hospitals across the country. Punjab’s process is about turning safety checks, staff roles and evacuation planning into routine practice.
| Why it matters: Newborn units handle patients who cannot be moved like ordinary patients. Any delay, power fault, fire alarm failure or unclear staff role can quickly become life-threatening. |
Technical Group Gets Seven-Day Deadline
A technical working group has been formed to prepare the proposed standards. Professor Dr. Masood Sadiq, Vice Chancellor of the University of Child Health Sciences Lahore, has been appointed as convener. Reports also identify neonatology, paediatric, nursing, biomedical engineering and emergency services representatives in the process.
The group’s job is to recommend a framework that hospitals can use in daily operations. This includes clinical criteria for admitting newborns to neonatal units and discharging them when stable. Clearer criteria can help reduce overcrowding, support better use of limited beds and ease pressure on critical-care staff.
The working group is also expected to look at step-down and shared-care arrangements with peripheral hospitals. Some newborns may not need high-intensity care once their condition improves, but they still require safe monitoring. A better transfer pathway can free specialist beds for babies who need them most.
| Work Area | What It Covers | Expected Benefit |
| Clinical standards | Admission, discharge and newborn-care procedures | More consistent care across hospitals |
| Infrastructure safety | Fire hazards, electrical load and evacuation challenges | Lower risk inside sensitive neonatal areas |
| Staff training | Evacuation drills, newborn handling and basic firefighting | Faster and safer emergency response |
| Monitoring tools | Checklists and audit formats for compliance | Regular review instead of one-time instructions |
Fire and Electrical Risks Become Central Focus
The strongest part of the planned SOPs is the focus on fire hazards, electrical load risks and emergency evacuation. Neonatal units often use oxygen support, incubators, warmers, monitors and other equipment that require careful electrical planning. A small fault can become serious when many devices operate in a packed ward.
The proposed SOPs will include fire safety, firefighting and evacuation procedures tailored to newborn-care settings. This distinction is important. A general hospital evacuation plan may not be enough for babies in incubators or on oxygen support. Staff need clear instructions on who disconnects equipment, who carries babies and where they are shifted.
| Safety warning: Written SOPs will only matter if hospitals test them through drills, maintain equipment and keep exits clear at all times. |
Training and Audits Will Decide Impact
Punjab’s plan also includes training models for doctors, nurses and support staff. In emergencies, every second matters, and confusion over responsibility can waste critical time. Regular drills can help staff understand how to move newborns safely, protect medical records, alert emergency services and coordinate with Rescue 1122 or other response teams.
The working group will prepare checklists and audit tools to monitor compliance across neonatal units. These tools could become the most important part of the policy if they are used consistently. Hospitals often have written safety instructions, but weak enforcement, missing equipment or blocked exits can leave patients exposed. A repeatable audit format can help administrators identify gaps before a crisis.
For parents, the expected benefit is straightforward: safer newborn wards and clearer accountability. For hospitals, the challenge will be implementation. Public hospitals face bed pressure, staff shortages and old infrastructure, so the SOPs must be practical enough to follow, not just ideal standards written for a file.
| Implementation note: The seven-day deadline may produce the first recommendations quickly, but lasting improvement will depend on budgets, inspections, training and follow-up action. |
What Hospitals May Need to Change
Once the recommendations are approved, public hospitals may need to review unit layouts, electrical wiring, equipment load, alarm systems, exit routes and staff duty rosters. Teaching hospitals and tertiary-care facilities are likely to face the closest scrutiny because they handle a larger volume of complicated newborn cases.
The new SOPs should also help create a common baseline across Punjab. Without a shared standard, one hospital may have stronger admission criteria, better training or more detailed safety checks than another. A province-wide framework can help officials compare performance, order improvements and hold management responsible.
The policy direction is positive, but it needs transparent monitoring. Authorities should make sure audits do not become box-ticking exercises. Neonatal safety requires working alarms, safe electrical systems, trained staff, clear evacuation routes and leadership attention.
Disclaimer: This article is based on official and media reports available at the time of writing. Final SOPs, implementation timelines and hospital-level requirements may change after government approval.
