Surat: 150 Hospitals Sealed for not Having Fire NOC, Doctors seek IMA Intervention

Surat: Taking action against more than 150 hospitals that do not have a fire NOC (no objection certificate) or Building Use Certificate (BUC), the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has sealed those facilities.

The action by the authorities is part of a drive by the SMC across the State. This comes after a game zone caught fire last month in Rajkot and killed 27 people, including children, Indian Express has reported.

Meanwhile, facing the action from the authorities, the affected doctors held a meeting on Tuesday with the officials of the Indian Medical Association (IMA). During the meeting, the association assured the doctors of all possible help. Soon, a representation is likely to be made before the civic body.

The meeting on Tuesday was held at Surat New Civil Hospital and it was attended by more than 300 doctors and representatives of different hospitals and the Surat unit of the IMA. 

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Commenting on the matter, the IMA Secretary of Surat region, Dr. Vinesh Shah told Indian Express, "Problems of all IMA members will dealt individually and personally, and zone wise doctors committee will be formed for all nine municipal zones in Surat. The committee will look after the problems and appropriate representation will be made to authorities."

"Members have complained that there are discrepancies in the guidelines for fire safety measures, so we will ask for uniform guidelines from the fire safety department. We will request authorities (Surat Municipal Corporation) to review stringent norms of BUC and Fire NOC with proper interpretation of the law," he further mentioned.

"Electrical and biomedical engineers have to be paid high costs. We will make a plan to get NOCs at reasonable expenses. Members of IMA are ready to abide by rules and regulations," added Dr. Shah.

Meanwhile, speaking about the issue, one of the doctors present at the meeting informed that a huge number of hospitals in Surat have been sealed and they have been running for more than 50 years. "Earlier there was no such requirement of a (BUC)… and today it is difficult to get the BUC," informed the doctor.