Ghaziabad: Thirty-seven of the city's 324 private hospitals were found operating without mandatory fire no-objection certificates (NOCs) and in violation of fire safety norms during inspections by the district fire department. This prompted health authorities to issue notices to the erring facilities.
Inspection Findings
Inspectors discovered missing fire exits, inadequate firefighting equipment, non-functional or insufficient fire extinguishers, and inadequate emergency water supply across these hospitals. The violations were identified during a recent drive by the fire department.
Context and Concerns
The action comes amid heightened concern over fire safety following several fire incidents reported across the National Capital Region (NCR) over the past month. Ghaziabad's chief fire officer, Rahul Pal, stated, "The recent fires prompted a review of safety measures at hospitals, where evacuation during emergencies can be particularly challenging due to the presence of patients, including those in critical care."
The health department has issued notices to the identified hospitals, asking them to rectify the deficiencies within two weeks. Officials warned that facilities failing to comply within the stipulated period could face further regulatory action, including possible withdrawal of registration.
Profile of Violating Hospitals
According to officials, most of the hospitals found violating norms are small and medium-sized establishments with fewer than 50 beds. An official emphasized, "Fire safety compliance and obtaining a fire NOC are mandatory requirements irrespective of a hospital's bed strength. A detailed report has been sent to the chief medical officer, and the registration of the hospitals might be withdrawn if they don't follow the rules."
No Similar Drive in Neighboring Noida
Meanwhile, officials said no similar fire safety inspection drive has been undertaken in neighboring Noida. The absence of a parallel audit has raised alarm bells about the preparedness of healthcare establishments in Gautam Budh Nagar, where hundreds of hospitals and nursing homes operate.
Previous Audit Findings
Last year, a fire department audit of hospitals in Noida and Ghaziabad uncovered widespread violations of fire safety norms. In Ghaziabad, inspections of 324 government and private hospitals found that 115 were operating without valid fire NOCs, while fire safety equipment in more than 300 facilities was either poorly maintained or failed to meet prescribed standards. In Noida, at least 50 of the 188 private hospitals inspected were found functioning without valid fire clearances.
