- Uttarakhand hospital safety norms tightened
- Fire safety drills now made mandatory
- Strict action for hospital negligence
- Monthly audits across all institutions
The Uttarakhand government has tightened safety norms across all state-run and private hospitals, taking firm steps to strengthen fire safety and emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities. Acting on the directives of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, a high-level review meeting was held at the Secretariat, chaired by Secretary for Health, Family Welfare, and Medical Education Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar.
Statewide Fire Safety Overhaul
The meeting directed that every government and private medical college and hospital in the state must enhance its fire safety systems. Monthly fire drills and periodic safety audits will now be compulsory to ensure readiness during emergencies. According to media reports, health officials have made it clear that negligence in implementing these measures will attract strict disciplinary action.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar also instructed the responsible fire-safety agency to expedite the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) related to fire clearance. He further urged the Fire Department to take necessary steps to ensure timely compliance. The directive emphasizes that testing of sprinklers, motors, and other safety devices should be carried out regularly, with live demos to verify functionality.
Regular Mock Drills and Safety Audits
During the review, the Secretary ordered the Director of Medical Education to ensure monthly mock fire drills in all state medical colleges. The Principal of Doon Medical College, Dehradun, was instructed to hold monthly meetings with the executing agency to monitor compliance. As per several media sources, the concerned agency informed that the Fire NOC for the OT building will be issued by October 30, 2025, while the CSSD department’s NOC will be provided by November 30, 2025.
Zero Tolerance for Negligence
Dr. Rajesh Kumar stressed that under the Chief Minister’s direction, district authorities and hospital managements have been told to enforce stronger fire systems, conduct regular emergency drills, and complete security audits. In case of any lapse, strict action will follow immediately. He reiterated that patient and staff safety are the top priorities, and all hospitals must operate strictly in line with safety standards.
Key Officials Present
The review meeting was also attended by Director of Medical Education Dr. Ajay Arya, Principal of Doon Medical College Dr. Geeta Jain, Deputy Secretary Jaswinder Kaur, CMS Dr. R. S. Bisht, representatives from U.P.R.L., and other concerned officials, reflecting the administration’s united push for upgraded hospital safety.
Uttarakhand’s new safety directive marks a strong shift toward institutional accountability and proactive risk management in public health infrastructure. Regular audits and swift compliance are expected to significantly reduce risks in hospitals across the state.
The enhanced hospital safety drive could lead to uniform national-grade fire safety standards and potentially inspire similar statewide health infrastructure reforms across India.
Disclaimer
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