The hospital authorities accused of violating fire safety norms that led to the death of at least 88 in Kolkata today had also been running a full-fledged radiology department in their 160-bed Dhakuria centre for over a year without mandatory radiation safety clearances from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). The Advanced Medical Research Institutes quality accreditation under the National Accreditation Board of Hospitals (NABH) was held in abeyance after authorities discovered this during an inspection barely a month ago,in November. According to NABH Secretary Dr Girdhar Gyani,they also found that the hospital lacked a proper evacuation mechanism. The AERB inspects all laboratories and hospitals running radiological diagnostic services,including MRI and X-rays,for factors like floor-to-eight ratio,thickness of walls,materials used in walls and equipment specifications,before giving them clearances for being radiation safe. The hospital,which boasts on its website of being the first hospital in eastern India to be accredited by the NABH was struck off the NABH list when it failed to rectify or produce any satisfactory documentation to even prove they were working on their AERB certification. However,in a statement meant to assuage fears,the AERB said that following the fire today,there was no release of radiation from the sole medical device containing radioactive material at the hospital. A radiation protection team had surveyed the brachytherapy unit containing the radioactive team to survey the area. The unit was not in operation during the area. Speaking to The Indian Express,Dr Gyani said: We inspected the hospital a month back,and to our shock we found they were operating an entire radiology department with advanced diagnostic and interventional (treatment) radiology services for several departments including gynaecology,neurology and nephrology for a whole year without applying for AERB clearances. All they could say in their defence was they had some area clearances from the government. We had to withdraw their accreditation immediately. As per the NABH website,the hospitals accreditation,validated in 2008,was held in abeyance since November. Talking about the lack of a proper evacuation mechanism at the hospital,NABH Secretary Dr Gyani said: They could not produce a satisfactory reply here as well. With the glass facades surrounding the hospital,there was a shortage of fire safety officials and basic equipment. The hospital also could not provide us with a proper plan for emergency evacuation. The NABH provides voluntary certification under the Quality Council of India,that provides parameters for clinical,administrative and safety norms in medical facilities. For hospitals that meet these standards,a three-year certification is granted,which is reviewed by inspectors. Novembers inspection was AMRIs first since it first got accreditation in 2008.
