Mumbai, August 25: Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar has directed all government, private, and charitable healthcare centers across Maharashtra to conduct immediate safety audits related to fire, electricity, structure, and equipment. The reports must be submitted directly to the state government.
This directive is part of an initiative to implement fire prevention measures, emergency exit protocols, and electricity safety standards throughout the state.
Abitkar emphasized that patient safety is the government’s top priority and warned that negligence regarding fire safety will not be tolerated. Hospital heads, regional deputy directors, civil surgeons, district health officers, municipal health officers, and medical superintendents have been made directly responsible for ensuring compliance in their respective areas.
The health department has been instructed to conduct a thorough review of high-risk units, such as ICUs, NICUs, nurseries, and operating theaters. Inspectors will examine electrical wiring and load management, medical gas pipeline systems, exit routes, fire extinguishing equipment readiness, and staff training. Any deficiencies must be rectified immediately.
Every hospital building and block must undergo a physical inspection for fire safety every six months. Each institution is required to appoint a nodal officer to monitor electrical safety, exit plans, and conduct regular mock drills, along with submitting compliance reports.
Abitkar made it clear that if any unfortunate incident occurs due to delays in audits or failure to address deficiencies, the heads of the institutions will be held directly accountable. All facilities must strictly adhere to national guidelines related to fire and life safety and submit progress reports to the government.
This directive follows a tragic incident at Amaravati Hospital, where three newborns died due to suffocation from excessive smoke. Rescue teams evacuated 36 children, with six requiring urgent treatment at a private hospital.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an investigation. Additionally, Revenue Minister and Amaravati’s in-charge minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule warned that strict action will be taken against those found guilty, which may include charges of involuntary manslaughter.
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