Government wakes up to fire-trap hospital

BHOPAL: Health department and Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has once again like in the past called for review of fire safety measures in Bhopal hospitals. The fresh advisory comes in the wake of Bhubaneswar hospital fire that claimed the lives of 20 patients. Such diktats follow after every major fire incident.
After fire at the SNCU of Morena government hospital in May, BMC and health department issued directives for review of fire safety of Bhopal hospitals.
While the health officials and civic body passes on advisories putting fire hospital fire safety measures under lens, a reality check is horrifying - sample this, none of the government hospitals and many private hospitals in the city have never undergone a fire safety audit. It was first notified by the health department in 2014, following a fire safety workshop.
BMC in May announced it would initiate a fire safety assessment of clinics and hospitals in the state capital. There are 225 private hospitals in Bhopal, all of which report to the district chief medical and health officer (CMHO).
"Fire safety certificate has been issued for most of the hospitals. Norms in nursing homes act says hospitals shall follow BMC norms," said Dr Anoop Hajela, advisor to MP nursing home association.
An audit undertakes an assessment of fire safety - vis-a-vis - fire exit, electricity audit, MCB functionality and open wires. In hospitals and clinics they have been less than satisfactory, according to BMC officials. However, since nursing homes are governed by health department under the office of the chief health and medical officer (CMHO) there is little or no coordination between the two agencies.
TOI had reported in May that JP hospital has locked all but one exit, in an effort to prevent stray animals from entering the district hospital. In case of an emergency, the nearest exit from JP hospital Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) is two blocks or some 50-meters away.
In the wake of the Morena incident district health and civic officials reacted on Monday and directed for a status report on fire safety in all private and government hospitals. When contacted, health officials were not in the loop over the report.
JP hospital has been steadily expanded and new infrastructure been added in the past five years. It has cost the government around Rs 10 crore, just for the construction work. However, the SNCU unit which had a separate entry and exit has been closed.
Guarding the newborns from stray animals is another issue that haunts the health department. An incident in Bhopal's Sultania hospital created a panic when a newborn was allegedly eaten by a stray dog.
"Safety of woman is another factor to keep the SNCU entrance locked," said a JP hospital consultant.
Clueless about any such exercise is nursing home section in the office district CMHO. "I have never heard of any such regulation and we have not been intimated of any fire assessment."