The All Odisha Private Medical Establishment Forum (AOPMEF) on Sundaydemanded that the State Government relax the Fire Protection Rule 2015 for private clinics, hospitals and pathology laboratories which have been established with due approval from the urban development authorities since 1994.
“The Fire Protection Rules 2015 envisages that private clinics and hospitals must put large fire extinguisher systems in place and a 20-foot-wide road around the buildings for easy movement fire vehicles. As small and medium private hospitals have already been established in small areas with due approval from urban development authorities, it is not possible to have the road and large water tank as per the said rules,” said forum president Dr Ajay Mishra.
He said the Government should relax the rule for the better interest of people of the State as 70 per cent of patients depend of private hospitals.
“Registration of private clinics and hospitals has not been renewed since last year as we have not produced fire safety related NOCs,” rued Mishra, aidding that out of a total of 1,777 private clinics, hospitals and laboratories, registration of 1,555 units have not been renewed.
As per the Directorate of e Medical Education and Training (DMET), there are over 16,000 beds in private hospitals, which is more than the number in Government hospitals if put together, he said.
The forum to demanded that the Odisha Clinical Establishment Act 1990 be amended for easy registration of the private medical establishments.
“We are taking healthcare responsibility of 70 per cent of people. We are paying 48 kinds of taxes to the Government. Still we are not getting any support from the Government,” said forum vice-president Dr Jagannath Mohapatra.