Union Health Minister Inaugurates 2nd National Workshop on Disaster Preparedness and Fire Safety in Healthcare Facilities.
New Delhi:
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, J P Nadda, today inaugurated the 2nd National Workshop on ‘Health Sector Disaster Preparedness and Response’ and ‘Fire Safety in Healthcare Facilities’ at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. Organized by the Disaster Management Cell of the Union Health Ministry, the workshop marks the culmination of ‘Fire Safety Week’ activities conducted nationwide in collaboration with Disaster Nodal Officers from all States and Union Territories.
During his keynote address, Nadda emphasized the importance of developing a culture of safety and preparedness in healthcare institutions. “Lack of sensitivity towards disaster and fire preparedness leads to complacency, and complacency further leads to carelessness that becomes a spark of disaster,” he warned. He stressed the critical need for capacity building and sensitization of all cadres of personnel across public and private healthcare facilities at every level of service delivery.
Citing the Prime Minister’s consistent emphasis on institutional safety, Nadda stated, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly stressed the importance of regular fire safety audits and preventing disasters before they occur.” He noted that the healthcare sector, due to its use of high-load equipment and highly inflammable materials like oxygen and chemicals, must adopt rigorous safety and disaster preparedness protocols.
The Minister also launched the iGOT course on ‘Fire Safety in Healthcare Facilities’ aimed at enhancing practical and theoretical knowledge of fire response among healthcare workers. He further called for greater confidence-building and training initiatives to ensure effective disaster response at every operational level—from top administrators to frontline health workers.
Highlighting the workshop’s comprehensive scope, Nadda clarified that the initiative is not limited to government hospitals but includes private hospitals, nursing homes, primary health centres, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, and preventive care facilities.
Union Health Secretary, Punya Salila Srivastava, echoed these sentiments, urging institutions to move beyond regulatory compliance and build a proactive culture of fire safety and disaster management. “Preparedness is the core element of ensuring we meet every incident effectively. Health facilities are the harbingers of hope during crises,” she remarked.
The workshop aims to generate action-oriented recommendations to enhance the disaster resilience and emergency response capabilities of health facilities through a holistic, all-hazard approach.
The event also featured felicitation of the best performing States and UTs during ‘Fire Safety Week’ (April 21–25, 2025). Key attendees included senior health and disaster management officials, experts from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Institute of Disaster Management, WHO–India Country Office, and other key national institutions.
The two-day intensive consultation is expected to reinforce India’s commitment to safeguarding its healthcare infrastructure and ensuring uninterrupted health services during emergencies.
