New Security Measures for Medical Institutions Following Kolkata Case
August 28, 2024 – In response to the recent tragic incident involving a female doctor in Kolkata, the Indian government is taking significant steps to enhance security across all medical colleges and hospitals in the country. The new measures include the appointment of Chief Security Officers (CSOs) in every institution and mandatory police verification for contractual staff.
Key Developments
The decision was made during a virtual meeting chaired by the Central Home Secretary, Govind Mohan, and Health Secretary, Apurva Chandra, with Chief Secretaries and Police Chiefs from various states. This meeting aimed to address immediate security concerns and implement reforms to improve safety standards for healthcare professionals.
1. Appointment of Chief Security Officers:
To strengthen security, each medical college and hospital will appoint a Chief Security Officer responsible for ensuring the safety of healthcare staff and overseeing security protocols.
2. Mandatory Police Verification:
All employees working on a contractual basis in medical institutions will undergo police verification to prevent potential security risks.
3. Enhanced Surveillance and Safety Measures:
The government has also mandated a comprehensive security audit of all district hospitals and medical colleges. This audit will be conducted jointly by District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police, with involvement from the institutions’ Deans or Directors.
4. Increased Police Presence and Patrolling:
Large medical colleges and hospitals will have a dedicated police presence, with additional patrolling during night hours to ensure safety.
5. Strengthening CCTV Surveillance:
The existing CCTV networks in medical institutions will be reviewed and upgraded. The footage will be monitored from control rooms and stored on cloud servers to prevent tampering.
6. Identification and Lighting of Dark Zones:
State governments will identify dark zones within these institutions and improve lighting to enhance visibility and security.
7. Helpline for Healthcare Workers:
The 112 emergency helpline, available to the general public, will be extended to healthcare workers for immediate assistance in case of security threats.
8. Security Escorts for Female Doctors:
Special arrangements will be made for female doctors, including providing security escorts from hospitals to their residences during night shifts.
Long-Term Security Measures
A National Task Force is working on long-term strategies to ensure sustained improvements in security across medical institutions. This includes considering all aspects from theoretical, engineering, to business feasibility for a robust security framework.
Government Directive:
The central government has instructed states to enforce existing laws designed to protect healthcare workers strictly. Currently, 26 states have special laws in place for the protection of medical professionals.
These measures mark a decisive step toward improving safety and security for healthcare workers, addressing the immediate concerns raised by the recent incident, and ensuring that similar situations are effectively managed in the future.
