Daily Times

Following PIMS and Polyclinic, the recently attained documents available with Daily Times revealed the shocking news of negligence on part of administrations of three hospitals, their callousness towards life safety and value to human lives. It was found that the capital’s biggest hospital PIMS had no fire alarm, emergency light system as well as evacuation routes. Recently, the scribe found out that 3 additional hospitals lacked the preventive systems-Shifa International, Ali Medical Center and Maroof International while earning millions on monthly basis have no effective fire extinguishing system in their buildings despite various notices by Directorate of Emergency and Disaster Management (DEDM).

According to Islamabad Fire Prevention & Life Safety Regulations 2010 which extend to whole Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), all buildings of 33 ft and above are required to have precautionary measures for the eruption, extinguishing and control of fire. Mentioned explicitly in the Regulation, building standards include three clauses-fire prevention, life safety and fire protection. The authority has the power to seal all those buildings violating the ordinance by not taking enough measures of fire prevention and safety of public life. Documents available with Daily Times mentioned that 3 premier hospitals of the Country capital failed to respond to the advisory notices exhibiting their low commitment for life safety.

According to Shifa International website, 25 different departments, OPDs, surgical centers are functional and around 50,000 patients visit the hospital for different medical issues yearly but still the admin didn’t install the basic equipments for fire prevention and life safety. According to the data on Shifa International, fire extinguishers do not meet the standard criteria added that key equipments in fire fighting, wet risers and yard hydrants are absent.

In addition, automatic sprinkler & automatic detection systems as well as the water tanks are either not available or do not meet the required safety standards. In case of fire, the supply lines do not work making emergency exit design imperative. Unfortunately, the hospitals are doing significantly poorly in this area as emergency light system, exit signs, emergency numbers and marked evacuation routes are not there. The routes are mostly dumped and exit gates for fire fighting vehicles are blocked due to barricades for the security measures.

Despite notices from Directorate of Emergency, the hospital administrations fail to comply

The documents further added the highest negligence of the Shifa International that fire lift is not available in the hospital to be used during fire eruption. The concerned department, in its latest advisory report, expressed dissatisfaction over the wiring & cable system as well as the gas supply system within the building and marking it a ‘risk’ for any emergency. Safety measurements such as Central, “all-air” air-conditioning systems or package system HVAC -responsible for providing outdoor air to dilute the interior contaminated flames and air- and fire drills are.

The documents added the highest negligence regarding above factors in another reputed hospital in Capital Islamabad i.e. Ali Medical Center. The documents added that fire extinguishers, fire pumps, wet risers, house reels and automatic sprinkler system are either not installed or do not meet the standards. Emergency lights, exit signs, emergency evacuation routes and water tanks for firefighting aren’t available. The hospital staff has no drill exercise as well no basic training to professionally handle the emergencies with low causalities.

Another reputed hospital in Capital, Maroof International despite various advisory notices did not respond to ensure the fire prevention and life safety equipments for tackling with life threatening emergencies.. Emergency lights, drill exercises, light protection system are not satisfactory according to the SOPs.

When contacted, an official of the Directorate of Emergency and Disaster Management (DEDM) spoke of the violations by the 3 reputed hospitals adding that we have sent various advisory notices to the hospital authority for ensuring the fire prevention mechanism as well as ensuring the safety of public life but they are not getting it serious.

He added that ‘we can impose fine of 0.5 million on each and have the authority to seal their buildings in future if the buildings were not made friendly according to the standards of law and requirements. Daily Times made various calls and wrote emails to the Public Relation Officers (PRO) of Shifa International, Ali Medical Center and Maroof International but they didn’t respond on the issue.

Published in Daily Times, February 3^rd 2019.