TG: Government Hospitals To Undergo, Fire, Electrical, Structural Audits Within A Month

Following the fire incident at RIMS Adilabad, the Telangana government has ordered fire, electrical and structural safety audits of all government hospitals and will issue a formal Government Order laying down safety guidelines, which are required to be followed at hospitals.

The decisions were taken at a review chaired by health minister Damodar Rajanarsimha at the Secretariat on Thursday. The government also decided to make fire and electrical safety audits mandatory every six months and structural audits annually.

The audits will cover fire alarms, extinguishers, hydrants, sprinklers, fire water lines, emergency exits and lighting, electrical panels and wiring, diesel generator sets, air-conditioning units and oxygen supply systems. Emergency response and evacuation procedures will also be reviewed.

Rajanarsimha directed officials to set deadlines for rectifying deficiencies instead of limiting the exercise to audit reports. Defects will be classified as emergency, immediate or routine based on their severity, with life-threatening issues to be addressed without delay.

Under the proposed guidelines, hospital areas will be divided into sensitive and non-sensitive zones. ICUs, operation theatres, Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs), Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), radiology and diagnostic departments, dialysis units, emergency departments and other critical-care areas will be treated as sensitive zones.

Hospitals will be required to prepare evacuation plans for sensitive areas and conduct regular mock drills for staff.

At the district level, multi-departmental committees headed by the collector will monitor fire, electrical and structural safety. Officials from the health, energy, fire safety and roads and buildings departments will be part of the committees, which will conduct regular inspections and reviews.

The government has also decided to provide a separate budget for regular maintenance of fire and electrical safety equipment. Officials have been directed to ensure that the equipment remains functional and is repaired or replaced when required.