Amid Nationwide Doctors’ Protests, Centre To Form Panel To Improve Safety Of Healthcare Professionals

New Delhi: Amid nationwide protests and ceasework by doctors demanding justice for the rape and murder of a junior doctor Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) announced on Saturday that it will form a committee to recommend measures for improving the safety of healthcare professionals.

The Health ministry said all stakeholders, including state governments, will be invited to share their suggestions with the committee.

MoHFW officials, who met representatives of Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Resident Doctors’ Associations of Governmental Medical Colleges and Hospitals in Delhi, urged agitating doctors across the country to resume duty in the larger public interest and in view of the rising number of dengue and malaria cases.

While round-the-clock protests continue for the ninth day in Kolkata, doctors across India are observing a 24-hour strike to protest the brutal sexual assault and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at the state-run medical college.

All health services, except for essential services and emergency care, remain suspended on Saturday.

The medical associations presented their demands regarding safety and security of healthcare workers at their workplaces, the Health ministry said in a statement.

Officials heard the demands and assured doctors’ associations of all possible efforts to ensure the security of healthcare professionals.