A mandate to enhance the safety of healthcare professionals around the nation has been issued by the Indian government in reaction to the savage rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. All government-run medical colleges and institutions are required by the instruction, which was released on Friday, to file an institutional First Information Report (FIR) within six hours of any incident involving violence against healthcare professionals. This action resolves a crucial concern brought out by medical experts who have been staging widespread protests.
The order is being issued in the middle of large demonstrations by medical professionals and students who are calling for more safety and better working conditions. The young doctor’s violent attack in Kolkata has raised more questions about the safety of medical personnel, who frequently deal with hostility and threats from patients and their companions. The new direction from the federal government aims to speed up the reporting procedure because it has been difficult to take swift action against violent offenders due to FIR filing delays, which have been a major problem.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued the order, which draws attention to the rising incidence of violence in public hospitals. It highlights how prevalent it has become for healthcare staff to face physical assault, threats, and verbal abuse. The goal of the regulation is to guarantee that these instances be notified as soon as possible, enabling prompt institutional and legal actions.
The directive has been distributed to all central government hospitals, AIIMS facilities, and government medical institutes throughout India by Dr. Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services (DGHS). According to the guideline, every violent incident involving healthcare staff must be reported within six hours by the head of the institution. By implementing this approach, safety issues will be swiftly addressed and a more rapid and effective reaction to violence will be created.
Residents and medical students from different cities have participated in the protests, which have also demanded the passage of the Central security Act (CPA) in order to provide healthcare professionals with more extensive security. To put pressure on the government to make these reforms, the Resident Doctors’ Association in Delhi and other organizations have planned nonviolent protests.
To summarise, the instruction to lodge formal complaints with the authorities within six hours after violent situations is an essential measure in improving the security of healthcare personnel in India. The government wants to assist medical workers’ well-being and effectively address the increasing number of violent occurrences in healthcare settings by reducing the delays in reporting and taking action.
SOURCE :
HINDUSTAN TIMES
