Islamabad: To the surprise of many patients and their attendants visiting the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, stray dogs have frequently been found roaming inside the hospital premises and even outside the emergency ward, perhaps ensuring that people bitten by them get “proper treatment.”
Packs of stray dogs continue to move across the sprawling hospital premises, from residential areas and hostels to wards and critical care zones. Their presence is so frequent that it has become part of the daily environment rather than an exception, doctors and hospital staff say.
“I was waiting with a patient on Friday night when I saw several stray dogs inside the PIMS premises. They were moving freely outside the emergency ward, perhaps ensuring that people bitten by them get proper treatment,” said Ahmed Irshad, an official in Islamabad Capital Territory police.
Doctors, nurses and patients described the situation as both concerning and normalized. “Stray dogs roaming inside PIMS premises is a common sight. Nobody even takes notice of them,” said a female doctor, requesting anonymity.
“I often carry a stick when I move from the ward to the parking lot or any distant department, fearing an attack,” she said.
Beyond the safety risk, the issue also reflects gaps in treatment for dog bite victims. Hospital staff and patients say that while an initial dose of anti-rabies vaccine is administered at PIMS, victims are often asked to arrange subsequent doses from the market.
Rabies immunoglobulin, which is essential in severe exposures and administered around the wound to neutralize the virus, is frequently unavailable.
The situation comes as dog bite cases continue to rise in Islamabad and surrounding areas. Health officials estimate that hundreds of such cases are reported each month at PIMS and private hospitals, particularly during warmer periods.
Healthcare workers say the growing dog population has become a workplace hazard. Several doctors and nurses, particularly women, said stray dogs tend to target individuals who appear vulnerable.
“Female staff are especially at risk as they are less able to run or defend themselves in such situations,” one nurse said, calling for immediate measures to control the dog population within hospital premises.
Despite repeated complaints, staff believe the continued presence of dogs in sensitive areas, especially outside the emergency ward, reflects administrative gaps rather than a one-off municipal issue.
Responding to the concerns, a spokesperson for the PIMS administration said that “appropriate actions are regularly being taken for removal of stray dogs.” The spokesperson maintained that “medical treatment is being advised as per clinical protocol,” and decisions regarding the use of immunoglobulin are made by specialists based on clinical indications.
“Not every bite or suspected contact requires immunoglobulin,” the spokesperson said, adding that “in the emergency department, all treatment is provided free of cost and anti-rabies vaccine is freely available.”
However, for patients and staff navigating hospital corridors alongside roaming dog packs, the situation offers little reassurance, as even reaching treatment safely has become part of the challenge.
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