Swasthya Bhawan sets 7-day deadline after fire safety lapses surface in govt hospitals

The state Health Department has taken a strict stand over serious lapses in fire-fighting and safety arrangements at government hospitals, directing all medical colleges and district chief health officers to submit fresh inspection reports within seven days. Following discrepancies between on-ground inspections and paper reports, Swasthya Bhawan has issued warning letters and cautioned that failure to comply will invite disciplinary action under “non-compliance.”

The department’s concern stems from glaring differences between actual inspections conducted by hospital-level fire safety committees and the data submitted to Swasthya Bhawan. In several instances, inspection dates were allegedly manipulated, raising questions about the credibility of the audit process. Officials have flagged these inconsistencies as a major administrative failure.

Internal findings suggest that several major government hospitals still lack complete fire safety clearance certificates. In some cases, buildings within the same hospital complex showed contradictory compliance statuses—while one block was marked safe, another failed inspection entirely. Older hospital structures in densely populated areas are reportedly in particularly poor condition, with minimal adherence to safety norms.

In response, the Hospital Administration Branch of Swasthya Bhawan has instructed all institutions to conduct intensive fresh inspections and submit accurate reports within a week. Authorities have made it clear that any delay or further discrepancies will lead to strict action against responsible officials.

The renewed focus on hospital safety comes amid fresh public concern over fire incidents in Kolkata. A blaze on the fifth floor of Tower No. 8 at the Urbana Complex was brought under control without casualties, but it revived fears following the January 26 warehouse fire in the Nazirabad area behind the same complex, which claimed over 30 lives. Together, these developments have intensified scrutiny of fire safety compliance across critical public infrastructure.