CUTTACK: Even though major fire mishaps have already occurred at Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre (AHRCC), SCB Medical College and Hospital and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (SVPPGIP) or Sishu Bhawan at Cuttack, the Heath Department is yet to take steps to ensure fire safety measures.
Sources said, most of the private hospitals and nursing homes in Cuttack city are functioning without active fire protection system. In case of fire mishap, the fire fighting vehicle will face difficulties in reaching the spot in time as most of the hospitals and nursing homes are located in the congested areas.
As many as 206 registered private hospitals and nursing homes are running in the Millennium City at present. But, most of them do not have adequate fire safety measures. All the guidelines relating to fire safety measures are violated in these institutions. Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), Cuttack, Dr Prafulla Kumar Behera said applications for renewal of licence of 157 private hospitals and nursing homes have been cancelled due to lack of no objection certificates from the Fire Department. But they continue to operate. “We are conducting raids on these hospitals and nursing homes at regular interval and sealing those which have no fire safety measures,” Behera said. In last six months, 12 institutions have been sealed, while cases have been filed against six, he added.