Cuttack, Ap 27: Cuttack district officially has 260 government-registered nursing homes and home-based hospitals, but the number of unregistered facilities is reportedly higher. Among the 260 registered institutions, about 60 home hospitals have been operating under a “self-regulatory” category, avoiding the mandatory fire safety certification. These facilities have been conducting business year after year without proper oversight.
Other registered nursing homes have also allegedly bypassed inspections from the Health Department and fire services while running their operations. Many lack fire-fighting arrangements, yet patients continue to receive treatment there. This raises serious concerns about accountability: in the event of a fire-related accident, who would be held responsible for patient injuries?
Despite these risks, authorities have taken little action. The district Health Department and fire services rarely inspect nursing homes for fire safety compliance. The district enforcement squad, theoretically tasked with periodic inspections, appears inactive. The squad includes representatives of the District Collector, SP or DCP, and the Chief Medical Officer of Health, but enforcement has been minimal.
The last recorded raid by the enforcement squad occurred in January, when they inspected one nursing home and two diagnostic labs. In the following three months, no inspections were carried out, according to the Health Department. Due to this inactivity, many home hospitals across urban and rural areas have been operating unchecked.
Fire safety certification is mandatory for ICUs and for nursing homes with more than 30 beds or special facilities in four rooms or more. While regulations exist on paper, many home hospitals operate ICUs in name only, often providing critical and trauma care without meeting required safety standards.
Responding to these issues, Dr. Prashant Hota, District Chief Medical Officer, stated that hospital owners are regularly instructed to maintain proper fire safety systems. Although enforcement has been inactive for a few months, inspections will resume soon.
