No line, no prescription, OPD was run on the road, the central government said- security of health workers will be increased, a committee will also be formed

New Delhi: The round of meetings between the Union Health Ministry and the Resident Doctors Association (RDA) continued on Monday and Health Secretary Apurva Chandra gave information about the steps taken on the issue of safety of doctors. At the same time, the government has also told the doctors that the culprit in the rape-murder case of a female doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital will be punished under the Indian Penal Code (formerly IPC). Laws have been passed in 26 states including West Bengal in cases of violence and assault on doctors and the provisions of the central law will also not be different from this. This incident that happened with the doctor in the hospital of West Bengal will not come under the purview of state or central law. The case of West Bengal is very condemnable and shameful and the culprit will be punished under the Indian Penal Code. This case has already been transferred to the CBI and the earlier demands of the doctors have been accepted. Soon a committee will also be formed under the chairmanship of the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), in which all the states will also be represented. Every small and big issue including working hours, hostel facility, canteen facility, duty room will be discussed. Along with this, various doctor associations will also give their suggestions so that decisions can be taken by discussing every aspect of security in hospitals and medical colleges. The ministry says that it is not appropriate to stop work in hospitals demanding a central law because this is causing a lot of trouble to the patients. The government has appealed to the doctors to withdraw their strike.

On the demand of the protesting doctors demanding a central law, sources in the ministry said that bringing a central law will not make a big difference because this case of rape and murder of the doctor was not a case of patient-doctor violence. In cases of serious crimes including rape and murder, punishment is already given under existing laws. The punishment ranges from life imprisonment to death. Whereas to deal with cases like patients and their relatives assaulting doctors, vandalizing hospitals, violence, there are already laws in 26 states, including West Bengal, where this incident took place.

Treatment on the road…
The doctors, who have been on strike for 8 days in protest against the rape-murder case of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, provided OPD services in front of the Health Ministry’s office in Nirman Bhavan on Monday. The strikers said that the trainee doctor’s family should get justice. A series of meetings were also held between the Health Ministry and the Resident Doctors’ Association, who are demanding a central law for the safety of doctors and nurses. During this, Health Secretary Apurva Chandra assured them of security and said that an order has been issued to increase security personnel by 25% in central government hospitals across the country including Safdarjung and RML. The number of marshals will also be increased. States have also been asked to do the same.

Resident doctors demand that the government bring an ordinance for the Central Protection Act. On this, the government said that the culprit in the rape-murder case of a trainee doctor will be punished under the Indian Judicial Code. Laws have been passed in 26 states including West Bengal in cases of violence and assault on doctors. The provisions of the central law will also not be different from this. On the demand for a central law, sources in the ministry said that bringing a central law will not make a big difference, because the case of rape-murder of the doctor was not a case of patient-doctor violence. Punishment in serious crimes including rape and murder is given under already existing laws. There is a provision of life imprisonment to death penalty in this.

25% security personnel will be increased in central government hospitals, states will also be advised
The Health Ministry has issued an order to increase the number of security personnel by 25% in central government hospitals across the country including Safdarjung and RML. Along with this, the number of marshals will also be increased in the hospitals. A senior official of the ministry says that the number of security personnel will also be increased in the central hospitals from which the demand for increasing the security staff will come. Apart from the standard security protocol, after security assessment by the government hospitals, the deployment of marshals will also be approved on the basis of their individual demands. Along with this, the government has issued an advisory to every hospital and medical institution in every state in the country and asked them to take all necessary measures for the safety of doctors and medical students.

Along with this, the committee that will be formed will discuss and take decisions on various issues including CCTV in the campus of the hospital and medical college, separate duty room for women doctors. If the campus and hostel are at different places, then the responsibility will be to safely take the women doctors and students to the hostel. There will be adequate lighting arrangements. Women doctors should be put on duty in groups at night. A senior official of the ministry says that the demands made by the doctor association earlier have been fulfilled. The CBI is investigating to get to the bottom of the case. The government is also ready to form a committee, which will have multi-stakeholders. Representatives from as many states as possible, including West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, will be included. When the doctors end their agitation, the committee will start its work.

The institute will get the case registered within 6 hours
The Health Ministry has issued an order that if a patient’s family member or any other person assaults or misbehaves with a doctor, it will be compulsory for the institution to register an FIR within 6 hours of the incident.

Laws in 26 states
Laws have been passed for the safety of health workers in 26 states including Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, West Bengal. In all these states, these crimes are cognizable and non-bailable. There is a provision of punishment and fine ranging from 3 to 10 years in different states. In West Bengal, there is a provision of three years imprisonment and a fine of fifty thousand rupees.

NMC has also issued orders
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed to review the security arrangements in OPD, wards, emergency wards, hostels, residential areas, open areas and remove the shortcomings. If any incident of violence against medical students comes to light, then an immediate investigation should be done and an FIR should be registered. The NMC has also asked every medical college to submit an immediate report of every such case.