PHC directs hospitals across Punjab to strengthen fire safety measures

LAHORE, Aug 27 (APP):The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has issued urgent directions for the effective implementation of fire safety measures in public and private hospitals across Punjab to protect patients, attendants, healthcare workers and hospital infrastructure from fire and other emergencies. According to the directives issued on Thursday, the PHC has called upon the health departments, Punjab Emergency Services Department and hospital managements to take immediate steps to ensure comprehensive arrangements for responding to fire and non-fire emergencies. The Commission directed hospital administrations to ensure the availability of trained personnel, functional emergency equipment, adequate resources and regular emergency drills to enable a prompt and effective response in case of an emergency. The PHC reiterated that all public and private hospitals must fully comply with the prescribed Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS), including requirements under the Facility Management System (FMS) and Hospital Infection Control (HIC). Hospitals have been directed to establish an emergency coding system, including Code Red for fire incidents, maintain functional firefighting equipment, train staff, conduct regular emergency drills and develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs). They have also been instructed to prominently display emergency exit maps and obtain the required building safety and fitness certificates. The PHC requested the Punjab Emergency Services Department to inspect hospitals under Section 3(3) of the Punjab Community Safety Act, 2021, and the Punjab Community Safety Buildings Regulations, 2022. Under the applicable legal framework, District Emergency Officers are authorized to inspect buildings, including hospitals, verify the installation and availability of fire safety arrangements and issue safety certificates valid for one year where the prescribed legal and regulatory requirements have been fulfilled. The Commission further called for fire safety audits of all public and private-sector hospitals to be completed without delay. Hospitals found non-compliant with applicable laws, rules, regulations or bylaws should be issued inspection reports containing recommendations for improvement, while details of such institutions should be shared with the PHC. The Punjab Emergency Services Department has also been asked to provide details of inspections conducted during the past three years, along with a list of hospitals that have failed to meet the requisite statutory requirements. The PHC said it would continue coordinating with relevant institutions and monitoring compliance to promote safe, quality and dignified healthcare services for patients.