Hyderabad, March 06: Almost all hospitals and nursing homes in the twin cities are potential death traps for in-patients, out-patients and their attendants.
This inconvenient truth came out during an inspection of about 132 hospitals, nursing homes and healthcare units by the Fire Prevention Wing of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) between Feb 22 and 28.
The inspections were conducted in the wake of the major fire accident at Park Hospital in Somajiguda and a few other hospitals in the State capital.
The fire safety measures have four parameters: (1) means of access (approach road), (2) open spaces, (3) means of escape, i.e external staircases and (4) fire fighting equipment. The inspection teams found 100 per cent deficiencies in all the four parameters in the 132 hospitals. A report on the same was submitted to GHMC Commissioner for necessary action.
What makes this even more disturbing is that in an earlier inspection in about 75 hospitals, the FP wing came up with the same result: 100 per cent lacunae.
Speaking to Express, FP wing officials said all the hospitals in the twin cities had failed to adhere to fire safety norms and blatantly violated building rules. The latest inspections were carried out in hospitals and nursing homes having a capacity of up to 50 beds.
Hyderabad District Medical and Health Office (DM&HO) head Jaya Kumari said the DM&HO had slapped notices on these hospitals and nursing homes. The building owners and hospital managements have been directed to rectify the deficiencies with in 60 days. After two months, the buildings will be reviewed by the FP wing and if no corrective action was taken by then, legal proceedings would be taken up against them under the Andhra Pradesh Fire Services Act 1999.
–Agencies