With memories of Kolkata's AMRI hospital fire fresh in its mind, the Centre has directed all States and Union Territories to tighten norms in granting licences to open new nursing homes and ensure fire safety provisions mandatory for launching any such new ventures.
The Home Ministry order came weeks after a devastating fire at the Kolkata hospital claimed more than 90 lives, most them patients.
All the States and UTs were directed to ensure that hospital building bylaws provide for mandatory fire safety provisions.
“We have asked the States to make fire safety provisions mandatory licensing condition for setting up new medical institutes. Without fire safety provisions, no licence should be given to anyone for setting up a hospital or nursing home,” a Home Ministry official said.
Fire safety audit
The States and UTs were also directed to conduct fire safety audit in all major hospitals and nursing homes through the State Department of Fire and Emergency Services and ensure that the safety measures put in place were adequate to deal with emergency situations.
The Home Ministry asked that mock drills should be conducted in some of these hospitals and nursing homes to see how doctors and nursing staff respond in case of emergency.