Close on the heels of the devastating blaze in a hospitalin Bhubaneswar, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry has acted swiftly if belatedly and issued an advisory and circulated provisions to all states and union territories on fire safety.
Reacting to the death of more than 20 patients in the Bhubaneswar hospital, the Centre has instructed all Central Government hospitals/institutes to obtain No objection Certificates from fire department in a time-bound manner.
A committee has been constituted in the ministry to prepare guidelines on fire safety and its implementation in hospital buildings. Further, the committee has advised Safdarjung Hospital, Dr RML Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College and associated hospitals to consult Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee regarding fire safety audit.
The October 17 fire left more than 20 patients died, mostly from asphyxiation in the major fire which broke out in the ICU and dialysis ward of SUM Hospital-cum-medical college, an upscale hospital on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.
The committee will review fire safety measures at various Central government hospitals and has been asked to submit its report within 15 days. Union Health Minister J P Nadda has been quick to review the fire safety protocols which are being followed in all Central government hospitals all over the country. “Reviewed fire safety protocols being followed in all Central government hospitals,” he tweeted recently.
A joint secretary in the Union Health ministry has been made the chairman of the committee which includes various stakeholders from different hospitals. During the meeting, Mr Nadda directed officials to lay stress on having proper fire escape routes and measures in place especially in operation theatres and ICUs so that patients caught in a fire outbreak can be swiftly evacuated.
Public health and hospitals are a State subject and it is the primary responsibility of State/UT Governments to ensure adherence of healthcare facilities to safety norms including fire safety.
Date: November 20, 2016