The National Task Force, set up by the Supreme Court to formulate safety protocols for medical professionals, has recommended against framing a separate central law for medicos’ safety. The NTF made the recommendation in a report submitted as part of an affidavit filed by the Centre in the apex court.
Earlier, the task force submitted an interim report at the apex court, suggesting measures to prevent physical and sexual violence against medical professionals. As per NTF’s report, it has found laws enacted by various states and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 had provisions to initiate action on criminal acts against doctors and other health care professionals.
In its report, submitted as part of an affidavit filed by the Centre in the Supreme Court, the NTF observed that 24 states have already enacted laws to address violence against health care professionals while two states recently tabled bills on this regard. The task force observed that in states where there is no separate legislation, the BNS should be enforced immediately in cases of criminal acts against medicos.
“It has been observed that state laws have adequate provisions to address day-to-day minor offences and serious offences can be addressed by BNS. A separate central law to deal with offences against health care professionals is, therefore, not required," PTI reported quoting the report of NTF.
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The NTF has recommended short-term, medium and long-term measures for the protection of medical professionals at health care establishments. It said proper investigation must be ensured in criminal cases registered on acts against medicos to deter offenders.
The task force said a security committee should be formed in hospitals and adequate awareness must be given to women staff on ‘Sexual Harassment electronic- Box’. It also stressed the constitution of Internal Complaints Committee at hospitals.
The Supreme Court, which is hearing a suo motu case on the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, constituted the NTF comprising senior medical professionals and government officials to formulate safety protocols for medical professionals at hospitals. The 10-member team led by Surgeon Vice Admiral R.K. Sarian was advised by the apex court to formulate actionable protocols for preventing violence against medical professionals and for ensuring better working conditions for them.
