The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has officially instructed all public hospitals across the province to enforce a color-coded emergency alert system, aligning with international safety standards.
According to a statement issued after a high-level meeting chaired by Dr Saqib Aziz, CEO of the Punjab Healthcare Commission, special attention will be paid to Code Blue (cardiac emergencies), Code Red (fire or evacuation), and Code Pink (child abduction or paediatric emergencies).
The meeting was attended by a diverse range of health leaders, including vice-chancellors, principals, chief executives, senior faculty members, medical superintendents, and consultants.
Dr Saqib Aziz emphasised that the hospital emergency code system is a colour-based notification protocol used worldwide to respond efficiently to critical situations.
He stated that patient safety cannot be ensured without the strict implementation of emergency protocols and stressed the need for staff training and the establishment of command centres in all hospitals.
This move, according to Dr Saqib Aziz, will not only reduce emergency response time but also help in preventing adverse incidents by ensuring a coordinated and timely reaction to high-risk scenarios.
The initiative marks a significant step towards modernising Punjab’s public healthcare infrastructure in line with global safety practices.
The International Emergency Color Code System is a standardised alert system used in hospitals worldwide to communicate different types of emergencies quickly and discreetly using specific color codes.
Instead of using loud alarms or detailed verbal announcements that may cause panic, hospitals use cooler-coded alerts that staff can instantly recognise and respond to. This system ensures a coordinated, rapid, and efficient response to emergencies while keeping patients and visitors calm.
