Bhubaneswar, May 6: In response to recent fire incidents in both government and private hospitals, the Odisha government has directed officials to complete fire safety inspections of all government-run healthcare facilities within 15 days.
Health and Family Welfare Secretary Aswathy S issued the instructions during a meeting held Monday evening, which was attended by fire officers, electrical inspectors, engineers from the Roads and Building Department, and chief medical and public health officers, a health department official said on Tuesday.
During the meeting, Aswathy emphasized the need to prioritise critical areas such as operation theatres (OTs), intensive care units (ICUs), special newborn care units (SNCUs), and high-power equipment zones like CT scan and MRI rooms, which are more vulnerable to electrical hazards.
She also instructed officials to ensure that generator connections are safely integrated with the buildings' electrical systems to prevent potential short circuits.
It was further decided that fire safety features should be incorporated at the planning stage of hospital buildings to avoid the need for structural retrofitting after construction is completed.
Joint committees comprising fire officers, electrical inspectors, engineers, and chief medical and public health officers were tasked with conducting on-site inspections, identifying fire safety gaps, and submitting a comprehensive list of corrective measures along with estimated implementation plans within the 15-day timeframe.
District authorities have also been instructed to implement all necessary measures to meet the standards required for obtaining fire and electrical safety certifications.
