Telangana doctors’ body seeks State-wide safety audit of government hospitals

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Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha inspects the fire accident site at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Adilabad on Tuesday. | | Photo Credit: ARRANGEMENT

The Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA) has urged the government to conduct a State-wide safety and infrastructure audit of all government healthcare institutions following a series of recent hospital incidents, including a fire at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) , Adilabad, which claimed the lives of five infants, and the ceiling collapse at MGM Hospital, Warangal, which injured three patients.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, TJUDA said the incidents had highlighted continuing deficiencies in infrastructure, maintenance, safety systems, funding, transportation and patient-care facilities across government hospitals. “The incidents should serve as a wake-up call for preventive and corrective action across the government healthcare system,” it added.

TJUDA called for a comprehensive audit covering government medical colleges and teaching hospitals, district and area hospitals, community and primary health centres, SNCUs, NICUs, PICUs and ICUs, emergency departments, operation theatres, blood banks and diagnostic facilities. They said that the audit should examine structural safety, electrical and fire-safety systems, medical-gas systems, generators, lifts, HVAC systems, water and sanitation facilities, emergency exits and medical equipment. Critical deficiencies should be risk-classified and rectified within a defined timeframe.

The association also raised concerns over the long-standing infrastructure and maintenance requirements at MGM Hospital and urged the government to expedite the Warangal Super Specialty Hospital and make visible progress towards its operationalisation within one month.

They also sought better hostel infrastructure for postgraduate residents, undergraduate medical students, nursing students and other healthcare trainees. For doctors and other healthcare workers posted in remote areas, the association sought safe residential quarters, security arrangements, lighting and CCTV surveillance.

TJUDA also highlighted the shortage of dedicated vehicles at PHCs, CHCs, government medical colleges and peripheral institutions. It said the lack of vehicles affected field visits, disease surveillance, immunisation, maternal and child health programmes, emergency referrals, sample transportation, health camps and disaster response.

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