The Maharashtra government has announced stricter safety measures for hospitals across the state, ordering government, private and charitable healthcare institutions to conduct comprehensive fire, electrical and structural safety audits.
Health Minister Prakash Abitkar has directed officials to ensure that safety inspections do not remain limited to paperwork. Hospitals will have to undergo physical checks to identify potential hazards and take corrective action before they pose a serious threat to patients, doctors, nurses and visitors.
The government has also asked healthcare institutions to submit their audit reports at the earliest.
ICUs, NICUs and Operation Theatres Under Scanner
The safety drive will pay particular attention to hospital departments where patients may be especially vulnerable during an emergency.
Officials will inspect ICUs, Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), nurseries and operation theatres to determine whether adequate emergency arrangements are in place.
These areas can present additional challenges during a fire or other emergency because many patients may require medical support or assistance to be moved. Authorities will therefore assess whether hospitals have appropriate systems to respond quickly to fire, electrical and structural emergencies.
Safety Checks Every Six Months
The state government has made it clear that hospital safety cannot be treated as a one-time compliance exercise.
Under the new directions, every hospital building and block will have to undergo a physical safety inspection once every six months.
The inspections are intended to identify problems with fire protection systems, electrical installations, building infrastructure and other safety arrangements before they develop into major hazards.
Hospitals will also be expected to address deficiencies identified during these inspections.
One Safety Officer for Every Hospital
Another major measure is the appointment of a nodal safety officer at each healthcare institution.
The officer will monitor safety arrangements, coordinate emergency preparedness activities and oversee mock drills and staff training.
The system is expected to establish a specific person responsible for keeping track of safety requirements rather than leaving the responsibility spread across different departments.
Hospital Heads Face Action Over Safety Lapses
The government has also warned hospital managements that negligence could result in strict action.
If a hospital fails to conduct required audits or ignores safety shortcomings and those lapses contribute to an accident, the head of the institution could face action.
The directive effectively shifts the emphasis from simply obtaining safety certificates to ensuring that hospitals are genuinely prepared to deal with emergencies.
Maharashtra’s New Focus: Safety Beyond Paperwork
The six-month inspection cycle, mandatory safety officers, mock drills and staff training are designed to make hospital preparedness a continuous process.
For patients in critical-care units and newborns in NICUs and nurseries, emergency preparedness can be particularly important because they may not be able to evacuate without assistance.
With the latest instructions, the Maharashtra government is seeking to ensure that hospitals identify safety risks before an emergency occurs, rather than discovering weaknesses after an accident.
