IHRA has directed healthcare facilities across Islamabad to strengthen fire protection systems, train staff and submit compliance reports within seven days.
ISLAMABAD: Healthcare facilities across Islamabad have been given seven days to complete required fire and life safety measures following a fire incident in the nursery of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital.
The Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) has directed healthcare centers to conduct a fresh assessment of their fire and life protection arrangements and ensure that safety systems meet modern standards for protecting patients, visitors and staff.
According to a letter issued by the authority, healthcare facilities must obtain a fire safety No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Fire Department. They have also been instructed to ensure that fire protection systems are installed through registered contractors.
The IHRA directed facilities to install and properly maintain fire detection, alarm and suppression systems. They must also ensure that fire hydrants and firefighting equipment are available and in working condition.
Healthcare centers have further been told to ensure that emergency exit doors are available, accessible and fully functional to facilitate the safe evacuation of patients and staff during an emergency.
The authority has also emphasized staff training and emergency preparedness. Healthcare facilities are required to conduct life safety training and emergency drills for employees and arrange regular testing of their fire protection systems.
The IHRA has set a seven-day deadline for healthcare facilities to complete the required life safety arrangements and submit implementation reports detailing the measures taken to comply with the directives.
The regulatory authority said it would conduct inspections of healthcare facilities across Islamabad to assess compliance with the new safety instructions.
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