Hospitals in Andhra now need fire safety nod to function: Gazette Notification

In this regard, Andhra Pradesh Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department has issued a Gazette notification dated December 3 making amendments to Andhra Pradesh Allopathic Private Medical Care Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Rules, 2007.

Also Read: Govt to amend New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules to add cell derived products as new drugs

A private hospital is supposed to submit the application in the prescribed in Form-I (in duplicate), along with the prescribed fees to District Registering Authority i.e. DM and HO of the District concerned for getting a certificate of registration.

On receipt of an application for registration, the Registering Authority sends a team of two doctors, one of whom should be a member of either the District Registration Authority or the District Level Advisory Committee to inspect the establishment within ten days.

The inspection team, constituted by the Registering Authority would then submit a report with reference to the availability of minimum standards prescribed in Appendix-I and also detailing the specific deficiencies to be corrected, if any.

As per the recent amendments, in rule 5.(a), after item (9), the following shall be added, namely,-

"10. Fire safety Certificate From The Fire Department"

Rule 5 deals with the certificate of registration to be granted to the applicant-establishment by the Registering Authority. And its section(a) spells out the requirements, criteria and facilities that need to be satisfied by the applicant for the registering authority to grant a certificate of registration. It states,

"Based on inspection reports, the Registering Authority shall grant the applicant- establishment a certificate of registration ( in duplicate), in the prescribed Form-IV annexed to these rules, after satisfying itself that the applicant has complied with all the requirements, criteria, facilities, etc prescribed in the Appendix-II

(1) Infrastructure including buildings

(2) Essential medical equipment.

(3) Equipment for protection from radiation.

(4) Facility for disposal of bio-medical waste.

(5) Effective maintenance of Sanitation and Hygienic Standard.

(6) Qualified Doctors.

(7) Qualified paramedical staff.

(8) Other essential staff.

(9) Previous audit reports evidencing financial capability."

Now, with the latest amendment, the requirement of a fire safety certificate from the fire department by an allopathic private medical care establishment in addition to the other items mentioned in the rule, becomes a must, only after which the registering authority would grant the certificate of registration.

As per second amendment, in Appendix-1 under part-II "General Requirements", for the existing condition (8), the following shall be substituted, namely, -

"No Objection Certificate:- shall obtain Fire NOC for building spaces from the Fire Services Department""

Appendix-1 details the minimum standards required for the registration of private medical care facilities, which are inspected by the inspection team constituted by the Registrating Authority.

According to physical standards under Appendix-1, the private medical care establishment is required to provide certain basic facilities irrespective of the services offered which is listed as, emergency first aid, general medical care services, general surgery services, pathology, power supply, water, transportation and communication facilities, fire fighting, facilities and space, waiting room, consultancy room, wards, operation theatre (OT)/labour room, equipment and instruments.

The condition 'Fire Fighting' states that fire fighting equipment should be available as per the requirements of the building spaces. Thus, according to the amendment, getting the fire NOC certificate from the fire department is now a mandatory general requirement.

A certificate of registration could only be issued by the Registering Authority if the applicant-establishment satisfies all the requirements, criteria, facilities, etc prescribed in the Appendix-II.

The third amendment substitutes fire NOC as a requirement instead of a simple installation of efficient fire fighting systems.

Appendix-2 part(4)- 'Engineering and Enviornmental Standards' condition(4) states that appropriate and efficient fire fighting systems should be installed in every nursing home. The fire fighting equipment fitted shall be as per Indian Standards and different types of fire fighting equipment are available in the market for the different nature of fires.

However, the amendment mentions that in place of condition(4) as mentioned above, the following should be substituted,

"No Objection Certificate:- shall obtain Fire NOC for building spaces from the Fire Services Department"

Similarly, Form I is the application which is required to be submitted to the District Registering Authority i.e. DM and HO of the District concerned for registration of an allopathic private medical care establishment. It had around 22 requirements that needs to be filled which are as follows:

1. Name and address of the Allopathic Private Medical Care Establishment

2. Name of Correspondent or any Authorised person for correspondence.

3. Name and Address of the Society/Trust and date on which it was established: -

4. Whether the accommodation is owned by the Establishment or on lease/rent. If so, please furnish the period of lease/rent along with the documentary proof. (Please Enclose the relevant copies)

5. The date of establishment of Medical care establishment

6. Total area of Establishment: (One set of photographs of the premises with its functional areas to be furnished) (a) Open area b) Constructed area

7. Bed strength

8. Types of Services offered

(1) Basic (2) Speciality

(3) Super Speciality

(4) Diagnostics

9. Names of Doctors, along with Registration Number Allotted by MCI/APMC (Please Enclose the details)

10. Names of qualified Nursing Staff, with their of Registration numbers of NCI/any other board (Please Enclose the details)

11. Names of Para Medical Staff and their Registration numbers (list to be enclosed)

12. No. of Supporting staff (list to be enclosed)

13. No. of Specialities available (Please Enclose the details)

14. The List of Equipment and Furniture available (Please Enclose the details)

15. Labour room with Paediatric care facilities

16. Operation theatres

17. Diagnostic Facilities including Clinical Laboratory and Imaging facilities

18. Whether registration is sought for main facility, or branches also, if so details (separate application shall be submitted for each branch)

19. The financial position of the Hospital/Institute (enclose Audit Report of the last two years)

20. Any other information relating to Hospital

21. Declaration on Stamp Paper for willingness to comply Yes/No with the prescribed rules is enclosed

22. Particulars of the Registration fee paid (D.D No., Name f the Bank, and Date)

Now keeping with the requirement of the fire safety, the fourth amendment adds another requirement numbered 23, which is the 'date of obtaining NOC from the fire department'. The notification reads,

In Form-1, after Sl.No. 22, the following shall be added, namely, -

"23. Date of obtaining NOC from the Fire Department."

To view the official Gazette, click on the link below: