On October 10, 2025, Odisha Health Secretary Aswathy S convened a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, to assess the progress of hospital infrastructure and fire safety preparedness across the state.
During the meeting, she emphasized the urgent need to complete construction work swiftly at all levels—from Primary Health Centres to medical colleges and district hospitals. She directed officials to prioritize fire safety and ensure that all facilities operate with secure electrical systems and reliable generator setups to prevent short circuits.
To strengthen coordination, she urged departments to collaborate and implement emergency safety protocols. She instructed each department to submit a detailed report within a week, outlining corrective actions and estimated plans for fire safety upgrades. Based on these submissions, the state government will allocate funds to support timely execution.
Furthermore, she stressed the importance of integrating fire safety features during the initial planning stages of hospital buildings. This approach, she noted, would eliminate the need for costly retrofitting later. She also called for joint inspections by fire officers, electrical inspectors, and engineers to identify safety gaps and ensure compliance.
Senior officials from the Health Department, Fire Services, Roads and Buildings, PHD, WATCO, and Rural Development attended the meeting. Independent Secretary Bijaya Mahapatra and other directors actively participated in the discussions.
This initiative reinforces Odisha’s commitment to patient safety and infrastructure resilience. By addressing fire safety proactively, the state aims to prevent future incidents and improve healthcare delivery across its public institutions.
