[size=55:3qaw5rxv]Sofia echo 18 August 2010
Bulgarian hospitals to undergo emergency safety check-ups
Bulgarian Health Minister Anna Maria Borissova has an ordered immediate check up of all hospitals in the country, in the aftermath of the deadly blast in a Bucharest maternity hospital, Romania, on August 17 2010, which left four babies dead, and seven in a serious condition.
The managing staff of all hospitals in Bulgaria are tasked with "
organising and overseeing immediate check ups of all electric installations to ensure the safety of the patients,,"
Dnevnik daily reported on August 18 2010.
The Health Ministry is to set up a "
task force"
entrusted with coordinating and controlling the check-up procedures, in order to ensure that they are conducted properly.
Special attention would be given to maternity and emergency wards, the report said.
The explosion in Bucharest occurred on the second floor of the hospital. It is believed that it was caused due to a malfunction within the air conditioning system. Following the explosion, a fire spread, but was quickly extinguished.
The authorities managed to evacuate 113 people, of whom 53 are children and 60 women.
Doctors have described the condition of the seven burnt babies as very serious. Reportedly, they have received between 70 and 80 per cent burns.
Fearing possible negligence from the hospital staff, the prosecution has launched an investigation, media reports said.