Chandigarh, February 2 – Haryana Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Sumita Misra, today reviewed the overall functioning of the State Health Department and issued a series of important directions aimed at strengthening patient safety, improving healthcare quality and promoting a comprehensive women-centric healthcare approach across government hospitals in the state.
During the review meeting, Dr. Misra laid special emphasis on hospital safety, particularly in view of recent fire incidents reported from hospitals in different parts of the country. She directed all Deputy Commissioners and Civil Surgeons to conduct comprehensive inspections of electrical wiring, power panels and other electrical installations in hospitals. Regular safety audits, preventive checks and timely maintenance of electrical systems were made mandatory to prevent fire-related accidents and ensure the safety of patients, attendants and healthcare staff. To support these initiatives, Dr. Misra assured that requisite funds would be provided for revamping Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres and District Hospitals, with special focus on upgrading infrastructure, safety mechanisms and patient care facilities.
Dr. Misra also reviewed the biomedical waste management system in government hospitals and directed officials to ensure strict compliance with prescribed norms for segregation, collection and scientific disposal of hospital waste. She stressed the need for regular monitoring, proper documentation and close coordination with authorised biomedical waste disposal agencies to prevent health and environmental hazards, warning that lapses in waste management would not be tolerated.
Highlighting the importance of patient welfare, Dr. Misra instructed that the Hospital Welfare Fund must be utilised transparently and strictly for its intended purposes. She directed health authorities to prepare and follow clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for utilisation of the fund, ensuring that expenditure directly benefits patients and contributes to strengthening hospital infrastructure and essential services.
The Additional Chief Secretary emphasized that healthcare policies should adopt a comprehensive and inclusive approach to women’s health, extending beyond maternal and adolescent care. She underlined the importance of addressing women’s health needs across all stages of life, including preventive care, nutrition, mental health, and age-related health concerns, to ensure holistic well-being and improved health outcomes for women. She directed officers to strengthen screening and preventive care for cervix cancer, breast cancer, anaemia and osteoporosis among women. Emphasis be laid on early detection, awareness campaigns and accessible screening facilities. She also instructed the department to include menopause management and counselling services as an integral part of women’s healthcare. Dr. Misra underlined the importance of menstrual hygiene management and called for increased awareness, wider availability of hygienic products and integration of hygiene practices into routine public health programmes. Improving overall hygiene practices in healthcare institutions was also identified as a priority area.
The review meeting also focused on improving neonatal healthcare facilities across the state. Dr. Misra directed that Neonatal Intensive Care Units and newborn care services should be further strengthened to reduce infant mortality and improve survival outcomes.
