Bhubaneswar, June 15: The Municipal Hospital here is in dire need of fire safety equipment, but the state government had kept it out of its recent review.
When safety measures at hospitals are being upgraded in view of the recent fire at SCB hospital, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation-run facility does not even have a fire extinguisher. Even the state government did not consider the hospital while carrying out a reality check of fire safety measures at three medical facilities here.
Chief municipal medical officer Nirod Sahu admitted that the Municipal Hospital did not have any fire-fighting equipment. He, however, said the facility would be installed.
"We have requested the authorities to check the fire safety measures at the hospital and install necessary equipment as soon as possible," said Sahu.
"At present, the administrative power of the Municipal Hospital is with the civic body. In 2012, the hospital was considered for revamp under the National Urban Health Mission. However, due to administrative glitches, it had missed the opportunity. Hence, it was excluded from the agenda of the state government," said a hospital official requesting anonymity.
Patients had to be rushed out of the five-storey cardiac wing of SCB hospital after a fire broke out on its second floor on May 31, raising concerns about safety measures at the premier health care facility. However, no one was injured in the incident.
In the wake of the incident, the government recently took up for review fire safety measures at three government medical colleges and hospitals - Sishu Bhavan, Acharya Harihar Cancer Care Institute and Capital Hospital.
Notably, the three medical college and hospitals and the other three major health institutions of the state have the bare minimum fire safety measures in place, but the Municipal Hospital doesn't have even a fire extinguisher.
Fire fighting equipment for the BMC-run medical facility is also crucial in view of fire tenders' accessibility to the hospital in case of emergencies. The nearest fire station is located at Museum Square, which is almost 3km from the medical facility. Due to the narrow lanes and the busy Old Town traffic, a fire-fighting vehicle would take nearly 15 to 20 minutes to reach the spot. The other fire station is nearly 9km away at Fire Station Square in Baramunda.
Sahu further said there were plans to upgrade the hospital to an urban primary health centre under the National Urban Health Mission. "The infrastructure of the hospital will be developed according to the norms prescribed in the Indian Public Health Standard. Once the administration of the hospital is handed over to the mission, it will see an array of developments," he said and added that after due procedure, it would be handed over to the mission within a month or two.
An official said the state government had planned to upgrade the hospital under the central scheme and, therefore, did not consider it in its recent review.
The hospital has 100 beds and treats nearly 500 patients every day. The hospital also suffers from staff shortage as there are on 20 doctors against its sanctioned strength of 34. There are three doctors both in the departments of medicine and gynaecology, one each in surgery, paediatric, skin, eye and ENT. The hospital also has a dental surgeon.
The Telegraph on June 3 reported about the sorry state of fire-fighting measures at the Municipal Hospital, which is considered the second important public health institution in the city. The hospital serves the health care needs of those living in Old Town, Samantapur, Mahaveer Nagar, Badagada, Uttara and a few places such as Pipili and its surrounding areas.
"The hospital administration is turning a blind eye to the health care needs of the patients. It is already reeling from staff shortage, which forces us to wait for a long time to see a doctor. Moreover, exclusion of this hospital when it comes to installing fire safety equipment is just another glaring example of the apathetic attitude of the state government towards the hospital," said Padmaja Mohanty, whose kin is undergoing treatment at the hospital.
In another development, Capital Hospital, which earlier had nearly 20 fire extinguishers, would have water sprinklers on its premises along with sensors and tanks. The public works department, along with the directorate of fire safety services, plans to install the facility.
"A survey on fire safety measures is being undertaken at Capital Hospital. After the process, we will install required fire safety equipment. Moreover, we have already floated a tender to install fire sprinklers at the hospital. Sensors will also be put in place to prevent overuse of electrical equipment at the hospital," said a works department official.