Jaipur: The Health department has ordered all unsafe, dilapidated, and urgently repair-needing hospital and health-centre buildings across the state to be taken out of use before the monsoon, directing officials to inspect every premises and shift services, staff, patients and equipment to safer locations wherever required.A department official said the health minister flagged the danger during a May video conference and instructed authorities not to operate from buildings marked dilapidated or repair-worthy, to ensure that no loss of life occurs during heavy rain, seepage, electrical faults or possible structural collapses.The directive follows a statewide survey conducted in Nov 2025, which found that nearly one-fifth of govt hospital buildings inspected were in poor condition. The report identified 2,748 buildings, or 19% of the 14,373 structures checked, as requiring urgent repair and maintenance. The inspection covered Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, primary health centres, community health centres, satellite hospitals, sub-district hospitals, mother-and-child wings and district hospitals.The findings have sharpened concern after the ICU fire at Jaipur’s SMS Hospital, where old wiring allegedly triggered a blaze killing eight critically ill patients. Officials said ageing buildings with weakened roofs, damaged wiring, leaking walls, and congested service areas become especially dangerous during sustained rainfall.The department is also reviewing service delivery from rented and ageing premises. Of the buildings surveyed, 1,673 health establishments are operating from rented accommodation, making up 12% of inspected facilities. Another 6,270 facilities, or 44%, are housed in old structures.Officials said infrastructure upgrades are being accelerated, with 3,682 newly constructed buildings now accounting for 26% of inspected facilities. New hospitals are under construction in several areas to strengthen capacity and reduce dependence on unsafe premises before extreme weather strains the public healthcare network further statewide.
