Health dept sanctions funds for fire safety facilities at KMC

The Public Works Department has agreed to undertake the construction of fire safety facilities and other civil works, following the request from the authorities of Kilpauk Medical College Hospital.

The hospital authorities said that the road within the campus would be widened and resurfaced to allow easy flow of ambulance and other vehicles. The lower level corridor would be dismantled as a new connecting corridor has been proposed.

“As the new emergency block has been started, internal road needs to be widened to create a better passage for ambulances to come from all the entry gates. The connecting corridor will help to allow easy evacuation in case of an emergency, and fire sump will ensure easy availability of water for extinguishing fire in case of any such accident,” said Dr P Vasanthamani, dean, Kilpauk Medical College.

The hospital would also get new power supply to the paediatric ward using the same fund. The Directorate of Medical Education and the officials from Public Works Department have agreed on the proposal, and the construction is expected to begin by the end of the year. It would be completed within six months.

As per a survey by State government, most of the government hospitals lack fire safety measures. After the survey, the High Court had ordered the formation of fire safety guidelines, including construction of ramps and evacuation passage, in all hospitals.

The guidelines for fire safety are being prepared by the State government for implementation in all government and private hospitals.