Fire audits in medical colleges a mere formality

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Fire audits in medical colleges with old buildings and outdated electrical systems are seen as a mere formality. Eight months ago, Health Minister Veena George had stated that safety and fire audits were completed in all hospitals for the first time in the department’s history. However, a fire broke out on Tuesday in the surgery ICU of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. The fire was caused by a short circuit in a ventilator. The audit at this hospital had been completed months earlier. Following the incident, the health department has directed all medical colleges to check the safety of ventilators.

On May 2, 2025, an explosion had occurred in the UPS of an MRI machine in the emergency medicine department at Kozhikode Medical College. The PWD Electrical wing and the Electrical Inspectorate are responsible for preventing such incidents. However, these systems are not working effectively in many medical colleges. An explosion in an ICU, where patients remain unconscious after surgery, is a serious safety lapse.

Coordination needed
There have been long-standing complaints about the lack of regular inspections in these buildings. Problems are not fixed on time. Even when hospital authorities send requests, government agencies do not treat them as urgent.

Experts say better coordination is needed between the PWD Electrical wing, the Electrical Inspectorate, and hospital authorities. The issue is not limited to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. Staff have raised concerns in medical colleges in Kottayam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, and Thrissur. They are calling for proper fire audits and stronger safety measures.