Kolkata doctor rape-murder: Health secretary issues new directives to enhance doctors’ safety

NEW DELHI: The Union health secretary Apurva Chandra and secretary, ministry of home affairs Govind Mohan issued directives to the state urging to reinforce safety protocols in all medical colleges and hospitals in light of the recent brutal rape and murder of a PG trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, and the nation-wide protests by resident doctors.

During the virtual meeting, officers of state governments and union territories (UTs) including chief secretaries and DPGs apprised about the steps taken to “enhance the security and provide a safer working environment for healthcare workers across public and private hospitals, medical colleges and other healthcare institutions”.

As per the Supreme Court order dated August 22, a 10-member national task force (NTF) was set up to formulate comprehensive safety protocols for medical institutions and to ensure that certain basic minimum measures are put in place by the state governments.

The Union home secretary requested the officers to ensure the following measures are implemented in the hospitals with high footfall.

• Installation of CCTV cameras in blind spots
• Integration with 112 helpline for health care workers
• Access control of large hospitals
• Sharing of revamped position under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Also read Kolkata doctor rape-murder: CBI will seek opinion of AIIMS on DNA, other forensic evidence

10 measures for hospital security

The Union health secretary also encouraged states to come up with innovative ideas and suggested the following measures to enhance the security and provide a safer working environment for healthcare workers.

• Joint security audit along with District Collector and DSP, and management of DH/ MC to review any shortfall in existing infrastructure and security arrangements, and to take up remedial measures.
• Security check of all hired security and other services staff to be done on a regular basis. DGR, State Security Corporation will be providing security personnel.
• Control Room, especially in large DHs/MCs, with duty roaster of staff that regularly monitor CCTV and securely store the data.
• Distress call to be attended to by Control Rooms.
• Mock drills for security to be conducted regularly.
• Training of hired security personnel to upgrade their capacity; in many establishments they are observed to be found wanting in discharging their duties due to poor capacities.
• Patient facilitators, trolley men, MTS in large hospitals to ferry patients on wheelchairs, stretchers are required, to reduce the number of patient attendants and lessen the load and stress on security And other healthcare professionals.
• Capacity building and training of doctors and other healthcare workers in bereavement protocols, especially in emergency/casualty wards.
• Security and safety committee to be institutionalized and involve senior and junior residents and students for continuous monitoring of the situation and status of emergency response preparedness.
• 'Routine Security patrolling' in all the hospital and medical college premises during night time.