Fire Dept, Health Ministry review hospital fire safety
PEKAN: The Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) and Health Ministry have initiated a joint study to tackle fire incidents at government hospitals nationwide.
Its deputy director-general (operations), Datuk Abdul Wahab Mat Yassin, said JBPM and the Health Ministry had been engaged in a series of talks to draft a note of understanding on several aspects involving the safety requirements at the premises.
“Both parties had met several times to check and discuss the contents of the note of understanding before it is finalised.
“However, the Movement Control Order due to the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in some setbacks and the finer details could not be completed.
“The note of understanding was to coordinate proper action in ensuring that safety rules at all hospitals are adhered to.
“Input gathered from JBPM and ministry will be scrutinised before it is included in the final draft,” he told reporters at the People Friendly Homes 2020 programme at Kampung Salong in Chini here yesterday.
He earlier accompanied deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib to the event.
Wahab said the note of understanding will include organising joint training programmes between JBPM and the Health Ministry which will ensure that hospital staff are prepared in the event of any emergency.
“JBPM will provide consultation and the Health Ministry will provide input to ensure all hospitals are able to follow the requirements specified by the department.
“Fire drills and training exercise will allow the medical staff to have a better understanding to respond during an emergency.”
Speaking on the fire incident at Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) in Johor on Sunday, he said the hospital staff responded swiftly in evacuating the 24 patients at one of its women’s wards.
“The staff tried to put out the fire using the fire extinguishers. Although they could not completely douse the fire, they managed to control the situation. Firemen arrived some five minutes later to completely douse the fire.”
The 3pm incident on Sunday was initially handled by the hospital’s emergency response team, but when the fire flared anew, JBPM was deployed to the scene.
No casualties were reported.
On Oct 25, 2016, fire broke out at HSA’s intensive care unit, causing the deaths of six patients and forcing hundreds to be evacuated.