New Delhi, Dec 17 (IANS): India's apex body for disaster management is preparing "mandatory" guidelines for hospitals that will cover fire and other emergency hazards, after a major tragedy struck a private super speciality medical centre in Kolkata killing over 90 people last week.
A core group would be constituted next week that would decide the guidelines for hospitals that would "cover fire and all other hazards", a National Disaster Management Authority spokesperson told IANS.
The NDMA had in the past issued guidelines for medical preparedness and mass casualty management "but it largely dealt with preparedness of hospitals to deal with disasters outside the hospital", the spokesperson told IANS.
The official said a meeting of NDMA officials was held Friday evening and after a brain-storming session with different officers and experts it was decided to prepare guidelines for hospital safety and preparedness to deal with on-site emergencies.
The decision was taken in the wake of the recent fire accident at AMRI Hospital at Kolkata, the spokesperson said.
"We have to now address this major issue of emergencies inside the hospitals both in the government and private sectors in the country," NDMA vice chairman M. Shashidhar Reddy said in the meeting.
The meeting was convened to review the present status of hospital safety and understand the role and responsibilities of different agencies.
Members and officers of NDMA, representatives from World Health Organisation (WHO), UN agencies, AIIMS, health ministry, Armed Forces Medical Services, corporate hospitals, Delhi Fire Service, experts from IITs, IIITs and NGOs were present at the meeting.
NDMA member Muzaffar Ahmed was tasked with constituting the core group of experts and preparing the guidelines for hospital safety and preparedness after wide consultation with all stakeholders.
"The core group, besides reviewing the present status, will identify gaps and look at international best practices. It will also look at the existing codes and other legal provisions and recommend steps for better monitoring and supervision of all safety measures," the spokesperson said.
NDMA, constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and headed by the prime minister, has been tasked with spearheading and implementing a holistic and integrated approach to disaster management in the country.