How many percent of doctors feel unsafe? What did IMA’s online survey reveal?

New DelhiAfter the rape-murder of a trainee doctor in a Kolkata hospital, the issue of safety of doctors and medical staff has become serious across the country. Meanwhile, an online survey conducted by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has revealed that doctors feel unsafe during night shifts. IMA received 3885 responses in a survey conducted through Google Form, in which one-third of the doctors admitted that they feel scared during night duty, most of them are lady doctors. The response of the doctors has also revealed that the lax attitude of the hospital and medical college administration, not being serious about safety is common. 24.1 percent of the doctors or trainees who participated in the survey feel unsafe and 11.4 percent feel very unsafe. How scared the doctors are can be gauged from the fact that some have even felt the need to keep weapons for self-defense. 63 percent of the female doctors participated in the survey.Duty room problem during night shift
A survey conducted to analyse safety issues of doctors working night shifts found that 45 per cent do not even get a ‘duty room’ during night shifts. Those who have a duty room still find themselves less safe. In more than half the cases (53 per cent), the duty room is located far away from the ward or casualty area in the hospital. The duty room does not even have a lock. In those places where there is a duty room, one-third of the places do not have an attached bathroom. In crowded hospitals, doctors are forced to rest in such duty rooms. The IMA claimed that this is the largest study on the safety of doctors with 3,885 individual responses.

Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, chairman of the research cell of the Kerala unit of IMA and his/her team conducted this survey, in which doctors from more than 22 states participated. More than 85 percent of the people surveyed were under 35 years of age and two-thirds were under 30 years of age. 80 percent junior and 20 percent senior doctors, interns, PG doctors participated in the survey. 11.40 felt very insecure, 24.10 percent felt insecure, while 46.50 percent felt uncertain about their safety. 18.10 felt safe.

Lack of trained security staff
The survey has revealed that there is a shortage of trained security staff in medical institutions. Security guards are employed in hospitals on low salaries, who are not capable of handling emergency situations. It has been suggested that ex-servicemen and bouncers should also be appointed in high risk areas like casualty and ICU. There should also be female security guards. There should be police checkposts in hospitals. Junior doctors are the most victims of violence in hospitals and the administration should solve their problems.

People come drunk
In the survey, some doctors have said that many people in the crowd that comes to the hospital are drunk. People who come with the patients are under the influence of intoxication or drugs and they misbehave with the doctors, especially women doctors. A person who is drunk should not be allowed to enter the campus. It is important that there should be CCTV cameras at various places in the campus, doctors should not be on duty for more than 24 hours. Doctors should definitely get facilities like drinking water, food. There should definitely be lighting.

52 percent of doctors said that their duty room is very far from the ward and 9 percent said it is very far. Only 38 percent said that the duty room is near the ward. To increase security, doctors have said that the number of trained security personnel should be increased, CCTV cameras should be installed, proper lighting arrangements, alarm system and basic facilities like secure duty room should be provided.