75% of Hyderabad hospitals are unsafe

Statistics can on occasions serve as misguiding forces because they may be off-the-mark and bring about short-lived joy. For instance, Hyderabad has around 1,200-1,300 hospitals, including specialised ones, spread across the city.Before you say ‘amazing’ hold your breath- nearly 75 per cent of them are either ill-equipped or terribly short on safety precautions!

• 946 hospitals don’t have proper fire safety measures
• Fire department seeks punitive powers
• SOS has no impact; GHMC remains oblivious

These startling and mindboggling figures come courtesy of none less than the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) that has published its findings in a report, a copy of which is with The Hans India. The report states that nearly 946 hospitals, including some of the premier names, could be bracketed in the ‘unsafe’ category, particularly because they cannot tackle fire emergencies.

The more sordid irony is that both government and private hospitals violate established norms and do not possess No Objection Certificates (NOC) from the fire department. These hospitals are either completely devoid of fire safety measures or are ill-equipped to handle fire-related emergencies. Sadly, even the fire department finds itself hard-pressed to ensure compliance of fire safety measures.

The report noted that the fire department seems to be doing nothing more than merely sending notices reminding the errant management of getting the NOC. Even during audits, the department remains unfazed by the shortcomings, despite them being fatalistic in nature. “We are conducting frequent audits and filing the names of hospitals that lack NOCs. The department is forced to just send notices which go in vain,” says assistant director of fire department P Venkata Ramana.

Given the way things have been happening, none takes the notices seriously. A bit of movement is noticed when trial starts against them. “If hospitals do not respond to the notices, we send it again for a period of two months. Prosecution too cannot be trusted upon as it takes several years. The case keeps doing the rounds without any serious action taken against the hospitals,” fumes Venkata.

With trials going on at snail’s pace, there has to be an alternate to enforce the norms. The department also complains about lack of manpower and low grants from the authorities. The department has been making pleas to the civic pleas to extend a more forceful helping hand in enforcing fire safety norms across hospitals.

“We have been asking the GHMC to compel the hospitals to take our notices seriously. We have sought that supplies, including power and water, be cut if hospitals take sour notices for granted. Alas, the Corporation is also ignoring our periodical reminders,” rues Venkata Ramana. While safety of people is at stake, the GHMC doesn’t seem to be taking things seriously. “Unless we get some powers in hand, a way out of the problem is impossible,” Venkata says.

By:Tushar Kalawatia