Amid mounting protests in the wake of the rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata, the Indian Medical Association has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposing several measures to enhance the safety and working conditions of healthcare personnel.
The IMA, which is observing a 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency services, recommended that the security of hospital be enhanced to match with that of airports, including mandatory security measures such as CCTV and personnel deployment.
"Security protocols at hospitals should be no less than at airports. Declaring hospitals as safe zones with mandatory security entitlements is the first step. CCTV cameras, deployment of security personnel and the protocols can follow," it said.
The association also called for an overhaul of the working and living conditions of the resident doctors. “The 36 hours duty shift that the victim was in and the lack of safe spaces to rest and adequate rest rooms warrant thorough overhaul of the working and living conditions of the resident doctors,” it said.
The doctors’ body also demanded a central law incorporating the 2020 amendments in the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 into the draft Healthcare Services Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill, 2019, saying it would strengthen the existing 25 state legislations.
It demanded a meticulous and professional investigation in a timeframe into the Kolkata incident and rendering of justice. The IMA further said appropriate and dignified compensation should be given to the bereaved family.
A 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and murdered at the Kolkata hospital on August 9, sparking nation-wide protests. A civic volunteer was arrested in the following day. The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ordered a CBI probe into the case, saying no significant progress had been made in the investigation by the Kolkata Police.
Healthcare services in several government hospitals across the country remain crippled for more than a week due to the cease-work by junior doctors demanding justice for their colleague. The emergency and outpatient departments in most state-run hospitals are still closed, causing significant distress among patients.
