ROURKELA: Except the government and semi-government hospitals, none of the private nursing homes follow safety norms in Sundargarh district.
The 685-bed Ispat General Hospital (IGH) of SAIL, run by the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), is a modern multi-disciplinary hospital spread over a sprawling campus. It appears well-equipped to handle any fire mishap. Similarly, the Rourkela
Government Hospital and Sundargarh District Headquarters Hospital at Sundargarh town meet fire safety standards. However, the same is not true with several private hospitals and nursing homes located in Rourkela city.
The three-storey IGH building has six stair cases and a lift as exit points along with wide corridors connecting different wards. Its ICU is located on the ground floor of a separate building with exit points in all directions, while the main building has adequate ventilation for release of smoke in event of fire mishap.
Following the new guidelines under the Clinical Establishment (CE) Act including compliance to fire safety norms, the Sundargarh administration is in the process of reviewing applications for renewal and issuance of fresh certificates to private clinical establishments.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH), RC Behera informed that 17 private hospitals and nursing homes within Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) limits, having 30 beds or three-storey buildings, were served notices to comply with new guidelines. Similarly, Sundargarh-based Chief District Medical Officer, SB Naik said process is underway for identification of clinical establishments in rest of the district.
Sources informed that majority of private hospitals and nursing homes located within RMC limits do not have fire safety certificates. Apparently, many applications for such certificates are pending clearance from the fire safety wing, Cuttack for three years. Also, being located at congested residential or market areas, these hospitals fail to meet strict guidelines for fire safety including open space in their vicinity.
Sundargarh Collector Bhupendra Singh Poonia said all private clinical establishments have been instructed to comply with CE Act.