PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Health Department has decided to strengthen and streamline fire safety arrangements across hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout the province.
A high-level meeting was held in Peshawar to review existing fire safety measures, emergency preparedness, response mechanisms and fire safety protocols in healthcare facilities. Representatives from Civil Defence, Rescue 1122, the Directorate General of PDMA, the Relief Department, as well as medical superintendents (MSs) and district health officers (DHOs), attended the meeting.
The participants stressed the need for effective fire safety arrangements to protect patients, attendants and healthcare workers in the event of an emergency.
KP Health Secretary Fayyaz Ali Shah directed authorities to establish fire safety committees at the divisional and district levels. The committees will inspect hospitals and healthcare centres in their respective areas and prepare comprehensive reports on the existing safety arrangements.
The health secretary further directed that a detailed assessment of fire safety systems, emergency exits, firefighting equipment, emergency response mechanisms and other safety measures be completed at all hospitals across the province.
The committees have been instructed to submit their comprehensive reports to the Health Department within one week.
The meeting also agreed to strengthen coordination and communication among relevant departments to ensure a swift and effective response in the event of a fire emergency. Necessary steps will also be taken to ensure compliance with fire safety protocols at healthcare facilities.
The Health Department reiterated that providing a safe environment for patients, attendants and medical staff remains a top priority across all healthcare facilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
