ISLAMABAD – The administration of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad has imposed a comprehensive ban on photography and videography within the hospital premises, citing the need to protect patient privacy and maintain professional medical ethics.
According to an official circular issued by the hospital administration, taking pictures or recording videos in various departments of the hospital will be strictly prohibited.
The ban covers all clinical areas, including emergency wards, outpatient departments (OPD), hospital wards, and operating theatres. The administration has also prohibited any form of recording without prior written permission from the relevant authorities.
Directive Issued to Maintain Medical Ethics
Hospital authorities said the ban applies to all clinical and service areas of the hospital to ensure patient privacy and uphold the highest standards of medical ethics. Doctors, nursing staff, and administrative officers have been directed to strictly follow the guidelines outlined in the circular.
The move comes amid growing concerns over unauthorized recording of patients and medical procedures, which can lead to privacy violations and the spread of sensitive content on social media.
The administration has instructed heads of all departments to ensure strict implementation of the new rules. The circular warns that disciplinary action will be taken against the concerned department’s in-charge if any violation of the directive occurs. This places a direct responsibility on senior medical and administrative staff to monitor and enforce the ban within their respective units.
Growing Trend of Hospital Recording Bans
PIMS is not the first hospital in Pakistan to impose such restrictions. In recent months, other major healthcare facilities have introduced similar measures following incidents where videos of patients, medical procedures, or hospital staff went viral on social media, often without consent and sometimes causing reputational damage or legal complications.
The PIMS administration emphasized that the ban is not intended to hinder legitimate documentation but rather to prevent misuse of recording devices in sensitive clinical environments.
Patients and visitors who require photography or videography for genuine medical or legal reasons must now obtain prior written permission from the relevant authorities. Otherwise, they risk being asked to leave or facing further action. Hospital staff have been instructed to politely but firmly enforce the ban while explaining the rationale to patients and families.
The circular did not specify penalties for individual violators beyond the disciplinary action warned against department heads, but sources within the administration indicated that repeat offenses could lead to stricter consequences.
