In response to the recent tragic death of Dr Vandanadas, a house surgeon who got stabbed by a 42-year-old man at Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital, the Kerala government has decided to amend the Kerala Health Care Service Persons and Health Care Services Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2012 to ensure the safety of healthcare workers. An ordinance will be introduced in the next cabinet meeting to implement the necessary changes. Additionally, police outposts will be established at major hospitals to enhance security measures. The decision was made during a high-level meeting today, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Changes in the definitions of health institutions and health workers in the existing law, punishments etc. will be brought in with respect to contemporary times. Under the supervision of the Chief Secretary, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department, the Principal Secretary of the Health Department and the Law Secretary will hold discussions in this regard and submit the amendment proposals before the cabinet meeting. Discussions will also be held with the Kerala Health University, health workers' organizations and others. The petitions and suggestions given to the government by the organizations of doctors and medical students will be considered.
The chief minister directed that the health department and the home department take joint measures regarding the safety of the health workers. Security systems will be strengthened by dividing hospitals into three categories. Police outposts will be established in medical colleges, district hospitals, general hospitals, and women's and children's hospitals—which all come under the first category. Officers like SI, ASI, and CPO will be deployed here on deputation. Full police surveillance will be ensured in other hospitals as well. Necessary closed-circuit cameras will be installed in all hospitals and proper monitoring of CCTV will be ensured. The warning system will be installed in hospitals. A security audit will be conducted every six months in all hospitals. This will be done by the health and police departments under the supervision of the district collector. It has also been decided to check whether two doctors can be appointed in emergency departments at night in government hospitals.
A special security system will be put in place when taking accused persons and persons of violent nature to the hospital. The chief minister also said that congestion will be controlled in and around hospitals.
Health Minister Veena George attended the meeting online. Chief Secretary V.P. Joy, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department. V. Venu, State Police Chief Anil Kant, Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr K.M. Abraham, Principal Secretaries A.P.M. Muhammad Haneesh, Tinku Biswal, ADGPs MR. Ajith Kumar, T.K. Vinod Kumar, Law Department Secretary Hari Nair and others were present.
