Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Monday ordered an immediate power and fire safety audit at all government healthcare facilities, including Medical Colleges, Civil Hospitals, Sub-Divisional Hospitals, and Block-level Hospitals across the State.
The decision came after a power supply failure during a surgical procedure at Patiala’s Rajindra Hospital, a critical incident that raised concerns about the infrastructure at Punjab’s healthcare facilities. Addressing a high-level meeting with senior officials from the Health and Medical Education Departments, Dr Balbir Singh laid out stringent measures to prevent such lapses in the future.
Dr Balbir directed that all critical care units — including operation theatres, labour rooms, emergency wards, Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs), and Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) — must have Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems capable of providing at least 30 minutes of backup during outages. Additionally, all facilities are required to maintain fully functional generator sets with adequate diesel reserves to ensure uninterrupted power supply during extended outages.
The Health Minister also announced the formation of committees at the district, sub-divisional, and block levels to oversee power and safety systems. These committees, comprising representatives from the Health Department, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), and the Public Works Department (PWD-Electrical), will conduct regular inspections and report on the functionality of UPS systems and generators.
To ensure real-time communication, Dr Balbir directed the creation of WhatsApp groups for these committees to expedite responses during emergencies. “These groups will facilitate immediate coordination, ensuring that power backup systems are activated without delay,” he stated.
In addition to addressing power failures, Dr Balbir emphasized the urgent need for a fire safety audit. All healthcare facilities have been instructed to ensure the availability of fire extinguishers and compliance with fire safety norms, particularly in critical care units.