NEW DELHI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- India's federal health ministry on Monday launched a nationwide fire safety week across healthcare facilities to strengthen patient safety and hospital preparedness across the country.

Reinforcing its commitment to ensuring safe healthcare environments, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in partnership with all states and in coordination with relevant central (federal) ministries and departments, commenced the nationwide observance of Fire Safety Week from May 4 to 10, the ministry said in a statement.

The step comes at a time when concerns over health facility infrastructure safety and emergency readiness are growing across the country, especially after repeated reports of fire incidents and compliance gaps in hospitals.

Punya Salila Srivastava, India's health secretary, noted that fire safety week provides an important opportunity to reassess existing infrastructure, evaluate whether facilities have been adequately audited, and identify gaps and discrepancies that need to be addressed.

The health ministry has also launched the National Guidelines on Fire and Life Safety in Healthcare Facilities (2026).

During the week, systematic fire safety audits, mock drills and live demonstrations on fire detection and suppression systems, patient evacuation exercises, and a series of technical webinars will be held to disseminate best practices and technical knowledge. ■