Maharashtra hospital safety regulation enforcement

The Maharashtra government has implemented stricter safety protocols for all healthcare institutions, including government, private, and charitable hospitals. Following a fatal hospital fire in Amravati, Health Minister Prakash Abitkar ordered comprehensive fire, electrical, and structural safety audits, mandating physical inspections every six months and the appointment of dedicated safety officers at each facility.

In Nagpur, initial audits by the Municipal Corporation revealed significant violations, including 94 private hospitals operating in buildings not sanctioned for medical use and 121 hospitals lacking mandatory fire No Objection Certificates. Enforcement proceedings were initiated against 265 non-compliant hospitals, with three establishments ordered to shut down immediately.

Subsequent inspections in Nagpur expanded to 374 registered private hospitals, focusing on patient amenities, biomedical waste disposal, and sanctioned bed capacity. These audits resulted in fines for 73 hospitals regarding waste management, 21 facilities for exceeding approved bed capacities, and various penalties for lacking required parking or mandatory patient information displays.