Bhubaneswar: Odisha Health Secretary Aswathy S on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan here to review the progress of infrastructure development in government hospitals and assess fire safety preparedness across healthcare institutions in the state.
Officials from various departments, including the Health Department, Fire Services, Works Department, Rural Development, Public Health Division (PHD), and Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO), attended the meeting.
During the review, the Health Secretary directed concerned departments to expedite ongoing construction work from primary health centres (PHCs) to medical colleges and hospitals. She emphasised the need to make hospital facilities fully functional and prioritise fire safety measures.
Instructions were issued to ensure the installation of secure electrical connections to prevent short circuits. Departments were also advised to implement appropriate emergency response protocols and work in coordination to address existing gaps.
All involved departments have been asked to submit detailed reports by next week, outlining corrective measures and cost estimates for enhancing fire safety infrastructure. The state government is expected to allocate budgeted funds based on the submitted plans, with a focus on timely execution.
The meeting was also attended by Special Secretary Dr Bijaya Kumar Mohapatra, along with senior officials and directors from the respective departments.
