Reply: I am informed that on the night of 02 December 2025 at around 23:45 hours due to a short circuit caused by sparks arising from old wires and aged circuit breakers in the main electric panel, there was a total black out at the Jawaharlall Nehru Hospital. The Energy Services Division was immediately informed and the engineers got to task to restore the power supply. At 05:30 hours in the morning of the 3rd December 2025, partial power supply was restored in the ICU, Operation Theatre, Casualty Department and most of

144 the wards. However, certain areas such as the Laboratory, NICU, Health Records Section, Ward 1.6 and administrative block were still without power supply. By 13:30 hours on the same day, power supply was restored fully in the hospital. I must mention that critical equipment in ICUs and NICU are equipped with an autonomous battery backup, hence these equipment kept running. I also wish to inform the House that necessary actions were taken to shift patients to other institutions; 2 patients from the ICU were transferred to SAJ and SSRN hospitals, 3 babies from the NICU were transferred to SAJ, Dr. Jeetoo and SSRN hospitals. I am further informed that the ESD has recommended a complete renewal of the main electrical panel to avoid such a situation in the future. I wish to reassure the hon. Member and the population in general that we are leaving no stone unturned to take urgent remedial action. On the medical side, I am informed that all due attention was given to ensure the safety of the in-patients and out-patients. I wish to inform the House that there had been a general 'laissez aller' at the level of maintenance in all hospitals during the last 10 years and we witnessed the result of such a negligence. I will take the example of Dr. A. G Jeetoo Hospital which was constructed in 2012 with a completely new HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) System. However, due to lack of maintenance the system completely failed. Now, we need to carry out a complete repair of the system which will cost government a hefty sum of about Rs300 million. We cannot continue with the same mentality as the outgoing regime. We are here to bring about a change in the system. This is why we are coming up with the idea of a Specialised Agency which will look into all aspects of Operation and Maintenance in all Regional Hospitals and their subsidiary Health Institutions which, as at date, are Valued at Rs60 billion. And, I am sure the population will bear testimony of our way of governing. Allow me to seize this opportunity to thank the personnel of my Ministry, the staff of the Jawaharlall Nehru Hospital and the ESD Staff and Engineers from the Ministry of National Infrastructure who worked relentlessly to deal with the sudden power failure at the Jawaharlall Nehru Hospital which occurred in the night of the 2nd and 3rd December 2025. My appreciation also goes to the in-patients and their relatives who showed proof of understanding at this uncommon event.

145 WORKPLACE INSPECTIONS – COMPLIANCE & MONITORING