Odisha Govt Orders All State Hospitals to Complete Fire Safety Measures Within 15 Days

Bhubaneswar, May 6 : In a decisive step toward enhancing patient safety, the Odisha government has directed all state-run hospitals—from Community Health Centres (CHCs) to Medical College Hospitals—to complete essential fire safety measures within the next 15 days.

The directive was issued by Health and Family Welfare Secretary Aswathy S during a high-level review meeting on fire safety protocols in government healthcare facilities. The move comes amid rising concerns over fire hazards in critical areas of hospitals.

Joint committees comprising fire officers, electrical inspectors, engineers from the Roads and Buildings Department, and Chief District Medical and Public Health Officers have been tasked with inspecting hospital fire safety infrastructure across all districts. These teams are expected to identify gaps and submit detailed lists of necessary corrective actions and associated cost estimates within the stipulated timeline.

Priority has been placed on high-risk zones such as Operation Theatres (OTs), Intensive Care Units (ICUs), Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs), and diagnostic installations like CT scan and MRI rooms, which carry heavy power loads. The Health Secretary also underscored the importance of ensuring safe integration of generators with hospital electrical systems to prevent short circuits.

To ensure long-term safety, it was decided that fire safety systems would be incorporated into hospital architectural designs from the planning stage itself, thus avoiding expensive and complex retrofitting later.

The state government has already allocated approximately ₹300 crore for strengthening fire safety infrastructure in public health institutions. District administrations have been assured that additional funds will be disbursed based on the specific corrective action plans they submit.

The Health Secretary also emphasized regular mock fire drills, ongoing equipment maintenance, and review meetings with key stakeholders. A state-level joint monitoring team will conduct field visits to oversee the implementation and progress of these safety measures.

This sweeping initiative marks a major push toward ensuring that all healthcare facilities in Odisha meet certified fire and electrical safety standards to safeguard patients, staff, and infrastructure.