The Union Health Ministry has urged the states to submit action-taken reports on the immediate and short-term security measures implemented in medical institutions for doctors and healthcare workers.

Referring to a virtual conference held on August 28, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra, in a letter sent to the chief secretaries and directors general of police (DGPs) of all the states and Union territories on Tuesday, highlighted the key security measures discussed at the meeting and requested them to submit the action-taken reports before September 10.

The key points highlighted at the meeting included the identification of high-risk establishments as part of which each territory or district has to identify the hospitals with high footfall and consider those as high-priority establishments for security improvements.

Besides, the Centre has laid stress on conducting security audits in consultation with local health and police authorities to assess and improve security measures and giving special attention to areas with a higher incidence of security breaches, such as emergency rooms, triage areas, intensive care units (ICUs) and labour rooms.

At the meeting, Chandra also urged the states to ensure the installation and proper functioning of CCTV cameras, particularly in high-risk areas, and regular monitoring of those from a manned central control room.

Establishment of a protocol for quick sharing of the video footage of any untoward incident against healthcare workers with local police to facilitate a swift response and investigation, and technically orienting and training security personnel in soft skills, besides employing ex-servicemen (Directorate General Resettlement) as security personnel in the identified high-risk areas of the hospitals were also discussed.

The states were also asked to explore such manpower from their own security forces.

The letter also highlighted the need for the constitution of an internal security committee in hospitals with active involvement of resident doctors and students, laying down clear standard operating procedures (SOPs) for incidence response and robust background checks for all outsourced personnel and contractual workers employed in the hospitals.

It also emphasised on proper training and establishment of bereavement protocols for all doctors and healthcare workers to handle intense and emotional grief situations and deployment of patient facilitators or MTS for all patient-related activities inside the hospitals, which requires ferrying or shifting patients from diagnostics to therapeutics.

“Most of the states/UTs have informed in the meeting that various actions are already initiated as per the suggestions provided in the letter dated 23.08.2024 by the undersigned. It is also heartening to note that some of the states have initiated additional measures over and above those suggested by the MoHFW. In this regard, all the states and UTs are requested to provide an action-taken report of the immediate/ short-term remedial measures already initiated as well as appropriate action taken before September 10, 2024,” Chandra said in the letter.

On August 22, the Supreme Court directed that “the secretary in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shall engage with the chief secretaries and directors general of police so as to ensure that the state governments/Union territories put in place certain basic minimum requirements pending the receipt of the report of the National Task Force to assuage the concerns of the doctors over their safety at their workplaces”.

The states have to take remedial and appropriate action given the exigencies of the situation within two weeks after the meeting, Chandra said.

On August 23, Chandra had written to the chief secretaries and DGPs of all states, drawing their attention to the issue of violent incidents in medical institutions and a recent protest of resident doctors across the country following an incident of alleged rape and killing of a trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

 The United Doctors Front Association (UDFA) has suspended the nationwide strike, protesting the Kolkata rape and murder of trainee doctor, following a Supreme Court’s directive on Thursday.

“In response to the Supreme Court’s proactive and reassuring directives, UDFA has resolved to suspend the ongoing nationwide strike. This decision is rooted in our unwavering commitment to patient care and our confidence in the judiciary’s ability to address the pressing concerns of the medical fraternity,” a UDFA release said on Thursday.

The UDFA expressed gratitude to the top court for recognising the gravity of our concerns and taking swift action. The UDFA also emphasised the urgent need for the establishment of a Central Protection Act (CPA) to provide comprehensive legal safeguards for healthcare professionals.

“UDFA remains vigilant and committed to advocating for this critical legislation, which is essential for the long-term security of medical practitioners in India,” the release mentioned.

On August 22, the Supreme Court directed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to engage with the Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police across all states and Union Territories. The directive includes an unequivocal mandate for state governments and Union Territories to establish and enforce minimum safety standards in all medical institutions.

The top court has assured that no adverse action will be taken against doctors who have participated in protests prior to this ruling. It has also instructed the installation of CCTV cameras and call distress systems in medical establishments. The court also affirmed UDFA’s role as a key stakeholder in the ongoing National Task Force discussions.

The top court has imposed stringent timelines for action. The Union Health Ministry, along with state authorities, is required to complete consultations within one week, followed by prompt implementation within the subsequent two weeks.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra passed these directions while hearing the suo motu petition that it initiated in the wake of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal on August 9.

Earlier, doctors of the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, Indira Gandhi Hospital and several other hospitals ended their strike following the top court directive.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:
The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) at the AIIMS Delhi will today provide elective OPD services outside the Nirman Bhawan, which houses the Union health ministry amid protests over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata on August 9.

Here Are Top Points On Doctors’ Strike:

Kolkata:

The West Bengal government has advised the medical colleges and hospitals in the state to avoid allotting night duties to women doctors.

“All attempts will be made to avoid allotting night duties to women doctors as far as possible,” said Chief Minister’s Principal Advisor Alapan Bandyopadhyay while announcing a new initiative christened “Ratiirer Sathi” (night companion) for ensuring the safety of the women doctors.

Mr Bandyopadhyay said that women-friendly security personnel will be deployed at all medical colleges and hospitals.

“There will be separate toilets and restrooms for the women doctors. Safe zones will be created for them which will be under blanket CCTV coverage. A special app will be created through which the doctors will be connected to the local police stations. It will be compulsory for all women hospital doctors to download the app,” Mr Bandyopadhyay said.

He added that arrangements will be made for regular night patrolling by the local police at the medical colleges and hospitals.

“Shifts will be arranged in such a manner that in case of night duties the women doctors can function in pairs,” said Mr Bandyopadhyay.

He said that the state government has also requested the private medical entities to follow these guidelines.

“This system will be followed in Kolkata as well as in the districts. In case of the deployment of security personnel, the administration will be careful that a balanced male-to-female ratio is maintained,” he added.

On August 9, a female doctor in the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was found dead under mysterious circumstances on the premises.

She was a second-year postgraduate medical student at the hospital and was also working as a house staff with the chest medicine division.

The body was discovered by the hospital staff on the fourth floor of the emergency building of the hospital at around noon.

The brutal rape and murder of the female doctor have sent shockwaves across the country and pitched different political parties against each. The doctors across the country are observing a strike and demanding capital punishment for the accused.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)