Chandigarh: In response to a viral video showing a critical power outage during surgery at Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, Punjab’s Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh has directed a thorough audit of power supply systems and fire safety measures across all state-run hospitals.
Critical Power Outage Incident
The viral incident raised significant concerns when a power outage caused a ventilator to stop functioning during surgery, highlighting the need for reliable infrastructure in healthcare facilities. This prompted Dr. Singh to take immediate action to prevent future occurrences.
Comprehensive Audit Across Healthcare Facilities
- Audit Coverage: The audit will include all medical colleges, civil hospitals, subdivisional hospitals, and block-level hospitals across Punjab.
- Critical Care Units: Special focus will be on critical care units such as operating theatres, labour rooms, emergency departments, SNCUs, and NICUs, ensuring they are equipped with uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems to maintain operations for at least 30 minutes during power outages.
- Generator Systems: The directive also mandates that hospitals maintain fully functional generator sets with adequate diesel reserves to ensure uninterrupted service during prolonged power cuts.
Establishment of Oversight Committees
To enforce these measures, committees will be formed at the district, subdivision, and block levels, comprising representatives from the health department, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), and Public Works Department (PWD). These committees will routinely inspect power backup systems to ensure generators are operational and backup systems are activated quickly during outages.
Fire Safety Measures
- Fire Safety Audit: In addition to power audits, Dr. Singh ordered a fire safety audit for all healthcare facilities, emphasizing the importance of functional fire extinguishers, especially in critical care units, to reduce the risk of fire hazards.
- Ensuring Safety: These measures aim to prevent similar incidents in the future and enhance the safety and reliability of the healthcare infrastructure in Punjab.
Communication and Coordination
- WhatsApp Groups: To ensure quick communication during power outages, Dr. Singh proposed creating WhatsApp groups for the committee members to streamline coordination and resolve issues swiftly.
The comprehensive audits will address both power and fire safety concerns, reinforcing the state’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and ensuring patient safety across all public hospitals in Punjab.
