Government responds to nationwide demands for improved safety in healthcare facilities but rules out new central law, citing existing protections
The Centre has decided to increase security personnel by 25 per cent across all its hospitals following protests by doctors demanding better safety measures after the tragic rape and murder of a doctor on duty at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on 9 August. Additionally, these hospitals have been instructed to deploy marshals to provide immediate security assistance, according to sources within the Union health ministry.
Despite the escalating demands for a new central law to address violence against healthcare workers, government sources indicated that such legislation might not be necessary. “Introducing a law based on the RG Kar incident would not make a significant difference, as this was not a case of patient-doctor violence. Rapes and murders are already covered under existing laws,” a source noted. Moreover, 26 states and Union Territories have already enacted laws to protect medical professionals, the source added.
The Union health ministry has been actively engaging with the protesting doctors, including representatives from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA), and the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), among others.
To address the doctors’ concerns, a committee will be formed under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to examine various aspects of security, facilities for resident doctors, working hours, and canteen services at hospitals. “Hospitals are public facilities and cannot be turned into fortresses. We have urged the doctors to call off their strike as patient care is being affected,” a government source said.
Doctors nationwide are demanding the swift enactment of a special law to combat violence against healthcare personnel, along with the implementation of enhanced safety protocols within medical facilities to ensure a secure working environment. The Indian Medical Association has also sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in addressing their demands, which include a central law to curb violence against healthcare workers and designating hospitals as safe zones, similar to airports, with mandatory security provisions.
