Pune: PCMC Issues Notices to 438 Hospitals and Clinics Over Fire Safety Compliance

Pimpri Chinchwad, 25th December 2024: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has sent notices to 438 private hospitals and clinics across the twin cities for failing to obtain the mandatory fire safety no-objection certificate (NOC) from the civic fire department.

The action follows a lackluster response to the municipal corporation’s earlier appeal in May, urging healthcare facilities to comply with fire safety regulations. According to officials, only a small fraction of establishments took steps to meet the requirements.

Out of 623 private hospitals and clinics registered under PCMC, just 72 have successfully secured the fire safety NOC to date, a senior civic official revealed. Meanwhile, applications from 190 hospitals and clinics are under review. “Several of these have also been issued notices for discrepancies or delays in the process,” the official added.

“If these healthcare facilities fail to obtain the fire NOC, we will escalate the matter to the health department. Their registrations will not be renewed until they meet fire safety standards,” said Manoj Lonkar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner and Head of PCMC’s Fire Brigade Department.

Previously, private hospitals and clinics were permitted to conduct their fire audits through government-recognized private agencies. These audits, certified through ‘B’ Forms, were then submitted to the health department during the license renewal process. However, this system did not require direct oversight from PCMC’s fire brigade department.
Starting in 2024, PCMC introduced stricter protocols. Under the new rules, the fire brigade department now directly verifies fire safety measures and inspects facilities in person before granting an NOC. Fire safety audits for healthcare facilities are conducted annually between January and July, ensuring adherence to the updated standards.

The decision to tighten fire safety compliance came in the wake of a tragic fire at a children’s hospital in Delhi earlier this year, where seven infants lost their lives and several others were injured. This incident raised alarms nationwide about fire safety in healthcare facilities.

A senior PCMC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, “The recent measures are intended to eliminate any gaps in fire safety within the municipal limits. We cannot afford to risk lives due to negligence.”

Officials emphasized that the initiative is a crucial step to ensure the safety of patients, staff, and visitors in hospitals and clinics across Pimpri-Chinchwad.