The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed concern over the lack of safety for doctors and medical professionals in the country, stating that the working conditions have made doctors and health professionals susceptible to violence.
The bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said it initiated the suo motu case over the rape and murder of a doctor at the RG Kar Medical College Hospital at Kolkata on August 9 because this was not a matter related to the particular incident but also "systemic issues related to the safety of doctors across India."
Observing that the nation cannot await another rape for things to change on the ground, the court said it was creating a 'National Task Force' comprising doctors all over the country to suggest recommendations on the modalities to be followed to ensure the safety of women.
The SC statement was welcomed by the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association, which said it would consult with all stakeholders before deciding on the strike.
The following are some issues recorded by the bench while calling for a national protocol to create safe work conditions for medical professionals.
1) Young doctors have to put in long hours. Interns, residents, and senior residents are made to do 36-hour duty where basic conditions of hygiene and sanitation are often absent.
2) Medical professionals doing night duty are not given adequate rooms to rest.
3) There are no separate duty rooms for women and men.
4) Lack of security personnel at hospitals is more of a norm than an exception.
5) Lack of adequate toilet facilities for medical care professionals.
6) The places of stay for the medical professionals are far from the hospital and are not adequate.
7) There are few or not enough CCTV cameras to monitor the hospitals.
8) Patients and attendees have unrestricted access to all places.
9) There is no proper system at the entrance to screen for arms and weapons
10) Many places within the hospital are ill-lit.
