<p>Is Kolkata hospital fire waiting to happen in namma Bengaluru?<br /><br /> Looks like it. For, there are serious concerns about the safety measures in the hospitals here. Only nine out of 5,000 hospitals — government, private hospitals and clinics – in the City, have taken a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services Department (KF&ES). <br /><br />Most hospitals here are superspecialty, multi-storeyed, posh structures with little or no fire safety measures. <br /><br />The KF&ES is now contemplating the inclusion of NOC in the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act of 2007 to ensure that these buildings are fire safety compliant. Metrolife interacted with officials in the fire department, hospital managements and people to understand if the hospitals in the City are safe.<br /><br />The Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act of 2007 states that the local inspection committee, either with prior intimation or on receiving a complaint, may at reasonable time, inspect a private medical establishment to satisfy itself that the provisions of this Act have been implemented. <br /><br />The Act further states that “any person establishes, runs or maintains a Private Medical Establishment without registration granted under Section 7 shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with fine which may extend up to Rs 10,000.” <br /><br />A R Infant, DGP of Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services Department points out that an NOC from the fire department is mandatory only for high-rise buildings, above a stipulated height – above 15 metres. <br /><br />“An NOC is issued only after the premises is inspected and standards are met. There are two stages, one, before the construction and second after the construction where they have to obtain a fire clearance certificate,” he states.<br /><br /> When asked why a lot of hospitals that exceed 15 metres don’t have an NOC, Infant observes, “The BBMP is in charge of issuing an occupancy certificate. We issue <br />an NOC only to those who apply for it. We can’t stop occupancy.” <br /><br />Most hospital managements in the City claim that they have adhered to all rules laid down by KF&ES. Dr Navin Chugh, general manager of quality and head of quality of BCG Global Hospitals, points out that all the medical and non medical staff are trained in fire-fighting measures. <br /><br />“We have a safety officer on board who trains and inspects the premises to prevent any irregularities. We have five emergency exits and proper signages on all floors written in English and Kannada,” says Dr Navin. <br /><br />Mahesh Kumar, CEO, K R Hospital in Banashankari claims that he has invested about three to four lakh in ensuring the premises is safe. “We approached the Fire Department wanting an NOC but we weren’t given one saying that we don’t come under the purview. We have bought 42 extinguishers and an escape gear complete with goggles and mask,” observes Mahesh. But the ordinary people don’t think the hospitals in the City are well-equipped to deal with fire mishaps. <br /><br />Elizebath Abraham, a marketing communication specialist says, “Sometimes I find the emergency exits are few in number. There must be a fire extinguisher in every room and the patients must be familiarised with them in case of any emergency.”<br /><br /> She sums up, “There are a couple of hospitals that meet all requirements to get the required accreditation but after that I wonder how many of them actually follow the rules.”<br /><br />List of hospitals in Bangalore, which have taken NOCs from KF&ES<br /><br />1) Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research<br />2) Apollo Hospital, Bannerghatta Road<br />3) Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road <br />4) Narayana Hrudayalaya, Hosur Road.<br />5) Columbia Asia Hospital, Yeshwantpur<br />6) Narayana Nethralaya, Hosur Road<br />7) E S I Hospital, Rajajinagar<br />8) RV Dental College and Hospital, J P Nagar<br />9) Indus Westside Health Care Pvt Ltd, Jnanabharathi<br /></p>
<p>Is Kolkata hospital fire waiting to happen in namma Bengaluru?<br /><br /> Looks like it. For, there are serious concerns about the safety measures in the hospitals here. Only nine out of 5,000 hospitals — government, private hospitals and clinics – in the City, have taken a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services Department (KF&ES). <br /><br />Most hospitals here are superspecialty, multi-storeyed, posh structures with little or no fire safety measures. <br /><br />The KF&ES is now contemplating the inclusion of NOC in the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act of 2007 to ensure that these buildings are fire safety compliant. Metrolife interacted with officials in the fire department, hospital managements and people to understand if the hospitals in the City are safe.<br /><br />The Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act of 2007 states that the local inspection committee, either with prior intimation or on receiving a complaint, may at reasonable time, inspect a private medical establishment to satisfy itself that the provisions of this Act have been implemented. <br /><br />The Act further states that “any person establishes, runs or maintains a Private Medical Establishment without registration granted under Section 7 shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with fine which may extend up to Rs 10,000.” <br /><br />A R Infant, DGP of Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services Department points out that an NOC from the fire department is mandatory only for high-rise buildings, above a stipulated height – above 15 metres. <br /><br />“An NOC is issued only after the premises is inspected and standards are met. There are two stages, one, before the construction and second after the construction where they have to obtain a fire clearance certificate,” he states.<br /><br /> When asked why a lot of hospitals that exceed 15 metres don’t have an NOC, Infant observes, “The BBMP is in charge of issuing an occupancy certificate. We issue <br />an NOC only to those who apply for it. We can’t stop occupancy.” <br /><br />Most hospital managements in the City claim that they have adhered to all rules laid down by KF&ES. Dr Navin Chugh, general manager of quality and head of quality of BCG Global Hospitals, points out that all the medical and non medical staff are trained in fire-fighting measures. <br /><br />“We have a safety officer on board who trains and inspects the premises to prevent any irregularities. We have five emergency exits and proper signages on all floors written in English and Kannada,” says Dr Navin. <br /><br />Mahesh Kumar, CEO, K R Hospital in Banashankari claims that he has invested about three to four lakh in ensuring the premises is safe. “We approached the Fire Department wanting an NOC but we weren’t given one saying that we don’t come under the purview. We have bought 42 extinguishers and an escape gear complete with goggles and mask,” observes Mahesh. But the ordinary people don’t think the hospitals in the City are well-equipped to deal with fire mishaps. <br /><br />Elizebath Abraham, a marketing communication specialist says, “Sometimes I find the emergency exits are few in number. There must be a fire extinguisher in every room and the patients must be familiarised with them in case of any emergency.”<br /><br /> She sums up, “There are a couple of hospitals that meet all requirements to get the required accreditation but after that I wonder how many of them actually follow the rules.”<br /><br />List of hospitals in Bangalore, which have taken NOCs from KF&ES<br /><br />1) Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research<br />2) Apollo Hospital, Bannerghatta Road<br />3) Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road <br />4) Narayana Hrudayalaya, Hosur Road.<br />5) Columbia Asia Hospital, Yeshwantpur<br />6) Narayana Nethralaya, Hosur Road<br />7) E S I Hospital, Rajajinagar<br />8) RV Dental College and Hospital, J P Nagar<br />9) Indus Westside Health Care Pvt Ltd, Jnanabharathi<br /></p>
