Bhubaneswar: Health Secretary Aswathy S chaired a high-level meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan to review fire safety measures in government hospitals, ranging from Community Health Centres to medical colleges and hospitals, emphasising the importance of ensuring patient and staff safety.
During the review meeting, the Health Secretary, Aswathy S directed hospitals to prioritise fire safety in high-risk areas, including Operation Theatres, ICUs, SNCUs, and installations like CT scan and MRI machines. She emphasised
ensuring safe electrical connections, particularly with generators, to prevent short circuits. To enhance safety, it was decided that fire safety structures would be integrated into hospital building plans from the outset, eliminating the need for retrofitting later.
Joint committees comprising fire officers, electrical inspectors, engineers, and chief medical officers were tasked with inspecting government health facilities to identify fire safety gaps. They were directed to submit a detailed report with corrective measures and estimated plans within 15 days. Districts were instructed to implement necessary corrective actions to obtain electrical and fire safety certificates.
The state government has allocated approximately Rs. 300 crore to enhance fire safety in government health institutions. Secretary Ms. Aswathy assured districts that funds would be provided based on their corrective plans, emphasising timely completion. To ensure ongoing safety, districts were directed to conduct regular mock fire drills with local fire officers, hold review meetings, and maintain electrical and fire safety equipment. A state-level joint team will monitor progress through field visits.
Mission Director Dr D Brundha, Managing Director Odisha State Medical Corporation Dr Pooma Tudu, Director Medical Education and Training Dr Santosh Kumar Mishra along with senior officers from Fire Service, Roads and Buildings, Ph.D, WATCO participated in deliberations. Special Secretary and Director Health Services Bijaya Kumar Mohapatra outlined the issues and updates for discussion.
