PMC Orders Pune Hospitals To Reserve 10% Of Beds For Emergencies Amid India-Pakistan Tensions
Pune, 10th May 2025: In light of rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has issued urgent guidelines to both private and municipal hospitals in Pune, instructing them to reserve 10% of their beds for potential emergency situations. This initiative is aimed at ensuring hospitals are prepared for any unforeseen crisis, including natural disasters, accidents, or biological attacks, enabling them to handle an influx of patients during emergencies.
The guidelines stress the importance of effective resource management, the structural integrity of hospital buildings, staff training, and conducting regular mock drills to guarantee that hospitals are ready to respond to critical situations. They also advise hospitals to assess their preparedness for large-scale emergencies.
Dr. Nipun Vinayak, the Secretary of the State Health Department, conducted a virtual meeting with health officers across the state to explain how hospitals should manage emergencies during times of conflict. Based on this, the PMC’s Health Department communicated these instructions immediately to all private and municipal hospitals within the city.
The letter emphasizes the vital role hospitals play during emergencies, such as natural disasters or accidents, where timely medical intervention can be life-saving. It also recommended adopting the Hospital Incident Response System (HIRS), a system designed to improve the coordination and efficiency of emergency operations. By implementing HIRS, hospitals can clearly define the responsibilities of each department, including medical services, nursing, medication distribution, security, technical services, information systems, and coordination mechanisms.
The guidelines further stress the importance of triaging patients during emergencies, categorizing them by the urgency of their condition. This prioritization system—critical, urgent, and low priority—will enhance the quality of care and optimize time management. By utilizing limited resources effectively, hospitals can save as many lives as possible.
In addition, hospitals are instructed to prepare emergency action plans that consider increases in patient numbers, medicine stocks, additional staff, and other necessary resources. They are also urged to assess the structural integrity of their buildings, ensure reliable power and water supply, maintain drug stocks, secure oxygen and blood supplies, and ensure adequate staffing. These preventive measures are crucial in ensuring the healthcare system’s resilience during times of crisis.
