The massive fire that engulfed the Dialysis ICU and Medicine ICU of Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM hospital in Bhubaneswar leading to the death of 20 patients on Monday night, has exposed another chink in the armour of the state health department.
Despite promises by the government for a strong fire safety audit in hospitals in the state, the magnitude of the mishap at the SUM hospital is a clear indication of lack of fire safety measures in the hospital, that is considered one of the most reliable health care destinations in the state.
Even after the government had asked all district collectors to submit a report on fire safety in the hospitals besides seeking report from the private hospitals about the safety status, no measures seem to have been effected.
The Mishap
The fire that broke out at 7 pm on Monday, was brought under control in an hour but the thick smoke made patients and attendants run helter-skelter. Not all deaths were due to fire. Some deaths happened during shifting of patients to other hospitals without life support and others died due to asphyxiation, SUM doctors said.
A total of 107 patients are getting treated at various other hospitals in the city.
Since the incident was attributed to short circuit, the fire officer, manager and three electricians were suspended from service this morning, said Associate Dean and PRO Dr JP Das. Besides, Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia has been announced for the kin of the deceased.
The Odisha Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the case and sought a reply from the DG fire services, Home Department and Health Secretary.
While Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said stringent action will be taken against those at fault, Health Secretary Arti Ahuja has assured all help to the patients who have been shifted to other hospitals. ‘’It is too early for us to talk about who is to be blamed but an inquiry has been initiated and we are awaiting the report. Following that we can take action,’’ said Arti Ahuja.
Guidelines Formulated by Health Department
In 2013, the state health department issued guidelines on standard operating procedures through the DMET to all government and private hospitals about the necessary requisites for ensuring safety of patients in every category of hospitals. But whether these norms are implemented or not have never been followed up by the department.
The government had asked district collectors and CDMOs to submit a report about the preparedness to deal with any exigency. Similarly, the private hospitals were also given a deadline to comply with measures such as sufficient fire fighting measures in the buildings depending on their size, enough fire extinguishers in each floor, proper access to roads and training of its staff. But even the DG, Fire Services Binoy Behera said he does not have a comprehensive list of hospitals to which these guidelines were issued.
Did the Hospital Adhere to Fire Safety Norms?
The multi-storied hospital building that began operations since 2005 spreads over 6,54,715 sqft area. As per the hospital sources, every floor had the stipulated number of fire extinguishers and every unit of ICU and wards were properly equipped with fire fighting measures.
“We have adhered to all norms of fire safety. It is an accident and the number of casualties increased because of two reasons. One, patients and attendants started becoming panicked, second, the exit door of the ICU caught fire, which was the biggest hurdle to evacuating critical patients because most of them were on ventilators and life saving instruments,’’ said an officer of fire safety department of IMS and SUM hospital.
Three Inquiries Initiated
The Chief Minister has ordered an Revenue Divisional Commissioner level inquiry. Another one has been initiated by the fire services department and another in-house inquiry is being conducted by the hospital.
The reports have been checked and spot verification completed. I found that the short circuit happened in the store room adjacent to the ICU. I will submit my report and cannot say more at this stage of inquiry.DG fire services, Binoy Behera
Though its important to see if the facilities are enough or not and if guidelines are being adhered to or not, it is equally pertinent that hospital staff are trained about using the various extinguishing measures.
A fire officer of the fire department, on condition of anonymity, said, “Mock drills have not been done in any of the hospitals so far. Unless the hospital staff knows the operational procedures, how will they handle fire of such magnitude?’’
Cases of Fire on Rise in Hospitals
In March this year, the cardiology department of SCB medical college and hospital in Cuttack caught fire but no injury or casualty were reported. The Odisha High Court took suo motu cognisance of the issue and instructed the government to ensure that a fire office is established on the premises of premier hospitals. It has not fructified yet.
Similarly in October 2015, Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre in Cuttack was also engulfed in fire and one individual was killed. In November 2015, a child sustained burns at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post-Graduate Institute of Paediatrics, Cuttack.
In September 2014, the central ICU of SCB caught fire but no injury was reported. In 2013, the plastic surgery ward of the hospital also caught fire but no casualty was reported.
Patients Returning to the Hospital
‘’The patients who had run away last night are coming back to the hospital and we are offering them all help,’’ said Lingaraj Rath, patient relation office of IMS and Sum Hospital.
On the other hand, vice chancellor of SoA (Siksha O Anusandhan) University Prof Amit Banerjee, the umbrella organisation under which the IMS and Sum Hospital functions, said all evacuation procedures were adhered to.
“We are sad about the incident but I must assure that the SOP were undertaken with precaution. There was red alert. Doctors and nurses stayed put with the patients, and everyone cooperated with the fire personnel to help, otherwise the casualties would have been much more,” Banerjee said.
(The author is Bhubaneswar-based senior journalist.)
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