In the wake of a devastating conflagration at a neonatal infirmary that claimed the lives of six infants, the Delhi administration has mandated that both private and state-operated hospitals perform a comprehensive fire audit and submit a compliance dossier by June 8, according to Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday.
Bharadwaj disclosed that the proprietor of the hospital in East Delhi’s Vivek Vihar locality was also clandestinely operating another nursing home in Paschimpuri, for which legal action has been initiated. A conclave was convened to deliberate on the incident at the medical establishment.
Initially, law enforcement reported that seven neonates perished in the inferno, but post-mortem examinations revealed that one infant had succumbed hours prior to the outbreak of the fire. Bharadwaj mentioned that oxygen replenishment activities were underway at the hospital, raising concerns about whether the facility was handling it internally or if an external entity was involved.
He emphasized the illegality of hospitals maintaining their own refilling apparatus due to the potential fire hazard. “On April 24, directives were issued to all hospitals regarding fire preparedness. On May 8, a fire audit was instructed. Presently, all private and government hospitals in Delhi have been ordered to finalize a fire audit and submit a compliance report by June 8 to the health department,” he informed the media.
Hospitals have also been instructed to scrutinize their electrical systems. “During summer, power demands surge, which can precipitate short circuits. Hospitals are required to conduct an electrical system audit to ensure resilience under increased load,” Bharadwaj added.
He also stated that all chief district medical officers (CDMOs) have been tasked with conducting unannounced inspections of nursing homes and hospitals within their jurisdictions. Regarding the Vivek Vihar hospital, he noted that it was operating illicitly with 12 beds, despite having authorization for only five.
“It has been alleged that oxygen refilling was performed at the hospital in contravention of regulations, which will be investigated. The hospital’s registration certificate was valid until March 31, and they had applied for renewal. However, a deficiency memo was issued due to missing documents,” he further stated.
Bharadwaj recounted a surprise inspection at the medical facility that uncovered several deficiencies, resulting in a registered case. “The owner was also operating another nursing home illegally in Paschimpuri, and a case was filed against him. Both cases are under trial, with one at Tis Hazari court and another at Karkardooma court. We anticipate imminent verdicts in both cases,” he remarked.
He asserted that stringent measures would be taken against those culpable for the unauthorized expansion of beds at the hospital. Bharadwaj also clarified that the Delhi Fire Service had no record of issuing any No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the Vivek Vihar hospital since the building, standing at nine meters, did not necessitate a fire NOC under existing regulations.
“Going forward, a checklist of required systems, including automatic smoke detection systems, fire extinguishers, and water sprinklers, will be incorporated into the registration certificate issuance process,” he added. The minister also lauded the bravery of two nurses and five neighbors who heroically rescued some of the infants, risking their own lives.
“They disregarded their personal safety. We will recommend their names for valor awards,” he said. The revenue department has been urged to expedite compensation for the families of the infants who perished or were injured in the fire, Bharadwaj mentioned. The assembly at the Delhi Secretariat, which included health department officials, also addressed the prevailing heatwave conditions.
The neonatal hospital in Vivek Vihar, where six newborns perished and five sustained injuries in the blaze, was operating despite an expired license. Furthermore, it lacked qualified medical personnel and fire department clearance, police reported on Sunday. Authorities have apprehended Dr. Naveen Khichi, the hospital’s proprietor, and Dr. Aaksh, who was on duty during the inferno that erupted on Saturday night.
