The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), led by Justice Arun Mishra, convened a critical meeting of its Core Group on Health and Mental Health to explore the intricate interplay between patient and physician rights in India’s healthcare system. Prominent physicians, top health officials, representatives from government ministries, and members of the National Medical Commission assembled to discuss critical issues affecting the healthcare sector.
The difficulties that physicians confront, including worries that their working conditions do not meet international standards, were at the center of the conversations. The primary concerns raised by physicians included, but were not limited to, extended work hours, continuous shift work, poor toilet facilities, unhygienic conditions, and insufficient breaks. These worries highlighted how urgently institutional changes are needed to help healthcare providers provide high-quality treatment while maintaining their own well-being.
Medical negligence was one of the main subjects discussed, and the government was urged to take immediate action to solve this urgent problem. In addition, Bharat Lal, the Secretary-General of the NHRC, emphasized the need for preventative steps in response to the growing number of medical student suicides. He also formed a committee headed by the Director of NIMHANS, Bangalore, to look into these instances and student dropout rates.
The discussion also covered patient rights, with special attention to the dearth of basic services in rural areas, the ongoing issues with unemployment in the medical field, and the need for social security reforms to fully protect patients’ interests.
The NHRC Chairperson emphasized in the hybrid mode meeting that India’s healthcare system is overburdened and that there is an urgent need for strong execution of current laws and programs, with particular emphasis on the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The Chairperson’s demand for aggressive measures to tackle the complex issues that physicians and patients face struck a chord as a strong cry for comprehensive healthcare reform.
SOURCE:
THE PRINT
