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Hospitals in National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT) are finalising fire safety audit reports to be submitted to the Delhi government by June 8 as part of measures taken following the fire at Vivek Vihar Hospital that killed six infants.
Remains of the BabyCare Newborn Hospital in Vivek Vihar. (Raj K Raj/HT Photo)
After the fire at Vivek Vihar's Baby Care Newborn Hospital on May 25, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj announced that the Health Department has given all hospitals a deadline of June 8 to submit fire safety audit reports.
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HT contacted several hospitals in the region on Thursday to assess their progress towards the required compliance and found that larger hospitals usually have fire safety teams responsible for compliance, while smaller hospitals mostly undergo third-party audits and submit reports to the government.
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“Fire prevention, timely detection and rapid extinguishing procedures are in place. We prioritise the safety and health of our patients, staff and visitors. We regularly conduct comprehensive fire audits across our facilities,” a Fortis Healthcare spokesperson said in a statement.
Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Delhi completed its annual maintenance update about 10 days ago. Hospital officials said the hospital undergoes random third-party fire audits. “Our staff is well trained in fire drills and knows how to operate fire extinguishers and other equipment,” a hospital official said.
Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, has also opted for third-party inspections and conducts mock drills every month to ensure preparedness. “The audit checks for electrical risks and verifies all testing records for alarms, fire hydrants, sprinkler systems etc. Smoke detectors are tested every month,” said Viji Varghese, dean, Manipal Hospital, Dwarka.
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“We undergo fire audits every year by qualified and experienced auditors. In addition, we inspect our fire protection equipment every month and conduct fire safety training for our staff every six months,” said Vivek Sama, director of the 20-bed Sama Nursing Home and Hospital near Siri Fort Road.
Government-run hospitals are also required to submit reports.
An official from the Lok Nayak Hospital administration said the fire alarm system is being checked regularly. “Fire drills are conducted regularly and the last two were held on May 18 and May 22. We have also briefed the staff to take precautions like not keeping windows open in rooms where the air conditioner is running,” said the official, requesting anonymity.
Officials at Guru Nanak Eye Institute, a government-run facility in Delhi, said they conducted a fire drill specially designed for operating theatres on Tuesday. “We are checking fire alarms and training staff to improve response time in case of any emergency,” said a hospital official, who asked not to be named.
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