KP CM directs comprehensive review of hospital safety measures

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah contacted the provincial Health Secretary

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah contacted the provincial Health Secretary and directed him to conduct a comprehensive review of security and safety arrangements at hospitals across the province.

During the discussion, it was also decided to establish monitoring teams to inspect and assess safety measures at hospitals. The teams will be tasked with checking whether hospitals are adequately prepared to deal with emergencies and whether the required safety protocols are being properly implemented.

According to sources in Peshawar, the monitoring teams will include officials from several departments, including Civil Defence, the Health Department, Rescue services, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), and other relevant departments. The involvement of multiple departments is aimed at ensuring a coordinated assessment of hospital safety arrangements.

Sources said the monitoring teams will particularly examine fire safety arrangements and other precautionary measures at hospitals. The teams will assess whether hospitals have adequate arrangements to prevent and respond to fire incidents and other emergencies.

The move comes as the provincial government focuses on strengthening safety standards in healthcare facilities and ensuring that hospitals are properly equipped to deal with any untoward incident.

The Health Department has also called a meeting to discuss safety arrangements at hospitals across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to sources, the meeting will review the preparations in place to deal with any untoward incident or emergency situation at healthcare facilities.

Officials will also examine existing safety procedures and identify areas where improvements may be required. The meeting is expected to focus on ensuring that hospitals follow appropriate safety protocols and that relevant departments are prepared to respond quickly in case of an emergency.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Secretary Fayyaz Ali Shah said that standard operating procedures (SOPs) would be developed for all hospitals across the province.

He stressed the importance of ensuring proper safety arrangements at healthcare facilities and said that negligence regarding fire safety measures would not be tolerated.

The Health Secretary further made it clear that hospital administrations would be expected to comply with the safety requirements and take all necessary precautions to protect patients, attendants, doctors, nurses and other hospital staff.

The provincial government’s decision to establish monitoring teams is expected to provide a mechanism for regularly assessing safety arrangements and identifying shortcomings at hospitals. The teams will inspect facilities and report on the condition of fire safety systems and other emergency preparedness measures.

The inclusion of Civil Defence, Rescue, PDMA and other departments in the monitoring process is also intended to improve coordination between institutions responsible for emergency response and disaster management.

The government has directed the Health Department to ensure that safety standards are implemented effectively across all hospitals in the province. The development of province-wide SOPs is expected to provide hospitals with clear guidelines regarding fire prevention, emergency preparedness and response procedures.

Officials have reiterated that no negligence will be tolerated when it comes to fire safety arrangements in hospitals. The upcoming inspections and departmental meeting will help determine whether existing measures are sufficient and what additional steps may be required to improve safety.

The initiative reflects the provincial government’s efforts to strengthen emergency preparedness and ensure safer healthcare facilities throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.