OPDs sealed at 5 Surat Hospitals over Fire NOC Non-renewal

Surat: To enforce fire safety regulations, the Surat Fire and Emergency Services (SFES) on Saturday sealed outpatient departments (OPDs) and consulting rooms of at least five hospitals in the city for failing to renew their fire No Objection Certificates (NOCs). 

Critical inpatient services remain operational in order to avoid any disruption to ongoing treatment.

Speaking to TOI, an SFES official said, "There were no violations found in firefighting equipment or preparedness. However, the hospitals had not renewed their fire NOCs. They have since initiated the renewal process."

Also Read: Fire Audit of All Civic Hospitals, says Pune Municipal Commissioner

In Udhna, the first and second floors of Unn Multi Specialist Hospital at Royal Square, near Unn Patia on the Udhna-Navsari Main Road, were sealed due to lapsed certification. Meanwhile, Ikon Hospital in the Dindoli area also came under the scanner and was sealed for non-compliance.

"Only the consulting rooms and OPDs have been sealed to prevent the admission of new patients. Existing patients admitted to the indoor sections are not affected and will continue receiving treatment," the official added, reports TOI.

Also Read: Gujarat HC seeks status of Fire NOCs for hospitals

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the Gujarat High Court had asked the state government to provide details regarding fire safety measures in hospitals across the state, including the number of hospitals and whether they have valid Fire No Objection Certificates (NOCs). This direction came during the hearing of a suo motu PIL related to the deadly fire at the TRP Game Zone in Rajkot in May last year, where 27 people, including four children, lost their lives.