AHMEDABAD: Members of Ahmedabad Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (AHNA) on Tuesday opposed the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) directive that ICUs be shifted to the ground floor. The directive came after an order of the Gujarat high court.
Dr Bharat Gadhvi, president of AHNA, told mediapersons that the directive, though made with the intention of saving lives in fires, is not in the right direction and is unscientific.
“It’s not just about ICUs. If we shift the ICU, we also need to shift operation theatres and cath labs. ICUs are generally not on the ground floor to minimize contamination because of the greater movement of people. During the recent flooding in the city, if ICUs were on the ground floor, there would be the danger of water entering,” he said.
Dr Gadhvi said they are ready to discuss the issue and provide guidance.
Dr Viren Shah, secretary of AHNA, said evidence-based medicine is overlooked in the directive. “Other directives – such as maintenance and regular inspection – can be adhered to, but issues such as glass façades should also undergo scrutiny. If the glass is only on one side and can be opened, there’s no reason that smoke will not go out,” he said.
Officials said the consensus statement from a committee of the Indian Society of Critical Care Medical Experts on ICU planning and designing from 2020 recommended that the ground floor be avoided and ICUs be placed in isolated parts of the hospital.
