Bhubaneswar: In a bid to strengthen fire safety mechanisms across healthcare institutions, Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Wednesday held a high-level virtual review meeting with all District Collectors from Lok Seva Bhawan.
During the meeting, the Minister directed district administrations to conduct thorough inspections of fire safety infrastructure in all health institutions, prepare necessary estimates, and ensure timely completion of required upgrades.
The review assumes significance in light of recent directives issued by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who has called for strict enforcement of fire prevention and firefighting systems in hospitals across the state. Acting on these instructions, the government has mandated the formation of a dedicated task force, regular mock drills, periodic inspections, and expedited completion of ongoing fire safety projects.
Emphasising patient safety, Mahaling instructed District Collectors to carry out regular fire safety audits in medical colleges, district headquarters hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. He stressed that all fire safety equipment must remain functional and in ready-to-use condition at all times.
The Minister also underscored the need for close coordination with the Fire Services and Works Departments to ensure effective implementation of safety measures. Officials were asked to accord top priority to fire safety compliance across all districts.
The meeting was attended virtually by senior officials, including Works Department Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, Health Secretary Aswathy S., and Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Secretary Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav. District-level participants included Collectors, Chief Medical Officers, Fire Officers, Principals of Medical Colleges, and hospital superintendents, among others.
