THE Union Health Ministry on Monday issued a list of security measures to be implemented at all Central Government hospitals which include strict monitoring of the entry and exit and providing escort to women health professionals at night. Themovecomesamidnationwide protests by resident doctors who have been demanding a specialcentallawtocheckviolence against healthcare workers following the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor atastate-runhospitalinKolkata. In a communication sent to allheadsofCentralGovernment hospitals, the Ministry asked them to ensure adequate number of well secured duty rooms with basic amenities for female healthprofessionalsanddeployment of women health professionals at night be preferably done in more than one in number. They should be escorted in premises while on duty and proper arrangement of secured transport should be made for themforanymovementatnight.

 

The letter comes amid protests by resident doctors who have been demanding a special cental lawto check violence against healthcareworkersfollowingthe alleged rape and murder of a traineedoctoratastate-runhospital in Kolkata. The Ministry, in its communication,saidthatithasbeenevidenced for a long time that Government hospitals are more permeable to the public compared to private facilities, making it easier for unauthorized individuals to enter freely. “While accessibility is important for providing care, it can alsoposesecurityrisks.Hospitals sometimesbecometargetbyacts ofviolence, includingassaulton staff,whichcanberelatedtodisputes, dissatisfactionwithmedical care, or external criminal activities.

 

Ensuring safety of healthcareprofessionalsisvital,” the Ministry said. Violence or harassment against staff can disrupt operations and affect quality of care providedtopatients.Patientrush increases potential for conflicts and security breaches, it stated. TheMinistrysaidthataddressing these concerns requires a comprehensive approach to security that balances accessibility with effective measures to protectpatients,staffandintegrity of the facility. Listing the actions to be takentoaddress thesecurityissues, the Ministry stressed on proper display of relevant penal provisions of the state legislation to preventviolenceagainsthealthcare workers in hospital premises. It advised installing sufficientnumberofhigh-resolution CCTV cameras at strategic locations including entrances, exits, corridors, dark spots and sensitive areas. A control room should be set up in the institute for quick response to an emergent situation. In the control room one admin staff should always be stationed along with security persons, it said. It asked for employment of adequatenumberofwelltrained security guards forpropermonitoring/patrolling/ surveillance of the premises. The Ministry advised that entry and exit should be strictly monitored to allow entry