States were directed to Tighten Norms in Granting Licenses to New Medical Institutes

The Union government of India on 14 January 2012 directed all the states to tighten norms in granting licenses to open new medical institutes, and ensure fire safety provisions mandatory, for launching any such new ventures. The Home Ministry order came weeks after a devastating fire at the Kolkata hospital, which claimed more than 90 lives.

The states were directed to ensure that hospital building bylaws provide for mandatory fire safety provisions and without such provisions, no Licence should be given to anyone for setting up any hospitals. The state governments were asked to ensure that all hospitals and nursing homes equip their institutions with the required freighting gadgets, to avoid any untoward incident.

The Home Ministry also directed that mock drills should be conducted in some of these hospitals and nursing homes, to see how doctors and nursing staff respond in case of an emergency, and their patient evacuation plans.