Prakash Abitkar, the state public health and family welfare minister of Maharashtra, has mandated immediate audits for all government, private, and charitable hospitals in the state. These audits will cover fire safety, electrical systems, structural integrity, and medical machinery. The decision comes as part of ongoing efforts to ensure hospital safety and compliance across the healthcare sector in Maharashtra.
Maharashtra Mandates Fire Safety Measures in Healthcare Facilities
Pune: In response to the devastating fire at Amravati’s District Women’s Hospital, which resulted in the deaths of several newborns, Maharashtra’s State Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar has mandated the appointment of fire safety nodal officers at all healthcare institutions statewide.
The Minister emphasized that every building and block within hospital premises must undergo a physical fire safety assessment every six months to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
New Accountability Measures for Hospital Leadership
Hospital leadership, including heads, divisional deputy directors, district civil surgeons, district health officers, municipal health officers, and medical superintendents, will now face increased accountability for future safety incidents. A new directive mandates that these officials are responsible for the completion of audits and the rectification of any identified deficiencies. The directive explicitly states that heads of institutions will be held liable for incidents stemming from delays in audits or unresolved safety issues.