Delhi govt orders emergency preparedness in hospitals; red cross sign to be painted on roofs

As military tensions escalate with Pakistan, the Delhi government has issued urgent directives to all state-run hospitals and health facilities to bolster emergency preparedness. One key visual measure includes painting a Red Cross symbol on hospital rooftops to mark them clearly as medical sites from the air.

The move follows insights gained from the recent Operation Abhyaas mock drill and underscores the need for immediate, coordinated action to maintain uninterrupted patient care during potential emergencies.

A senior government official confirmed that hospitals have been asked to conduct another round of emergency preparedness drills. They must also stockpile essential medicines and consumables, ensure backup generator sets are fuelled and functional, and verify the readiness of critical care systems—including ICUs, oxygen supplies, and ventilators.

To ensure round-the-clock trauma response, hospitals have been instructed to cancel leave for key specialists such as surgeons, orthopaedicians, and burn care experts.

Facilities are also required to update ICU bed availability and equipment data on the designated government portal. Cybersecurity of hospital websites must be reinforced, and provisions for uninterrupted food services through hospital canteens and messes must be ensured.

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Hospital heads have been tasked with personally overseeing the implementation of these measures and maintaining close coordination with district magistrates and chief district medical officers (CDMOs).

Healthcare facilities must also prepare an online spreadsheet to enable real-time data sharing and must treat all directives—whether issued in writing or via WhatsApp—as high priority.

Each hospital’s disaster management plan must be fully operational, with functioning fire extinguishers and other vital infrastructure in place. The government has further instructed that any additional measures deemed necessary by Medical Superintendents or Directors should be actioned without delay.