Odisha Govt Steps Up Measures To Check Violence Against Doctors

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has directed officials concerned to initiate steps to prevent violence, harassment and physical assault on doctors and health officials on duty in health institutions across the state.

In a letter to district collectors, SPs, director of Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar/ director, RGH, Rourkela and all CDM & PHOs, Health Secretary Shalini Pandit said that the government has ‘zero tolerance towards violence against doctors.

While expressing concern over a rise in such incidents, she suggested exemplary action against the miscreants. The health institutions have also been directed to adhere to some steps to ensure that doctors and staff are protected from being manhandled.

1. CCTV cameras are to be installed at vital locations of the hospitals for monitoring of the activities in the hospital

2. Visitor pass is to be introduced for the indoor patients. Two entry passes are to be issued per patient for attending the patient during the official visiting hour and the attendants entering the ward should be frisked out by the internal security guards

3. All the regular and contractual employees of the hospital should be provided with an ID card

4. The entry of the general public and vehicles is to be regulated strictly to stop the thoroughfare

5. Signage highlighting The Odisha Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage of Property) Act, 2008 should be placed in front of the health institutions

6. internal security should patrol the campus and take steps to remove unauthorized vehicles and vendors

7. Two security hubs may be deployed to the crowded departments of the district headquarters hopsitals. The telephone number of the two hubs may be made available through the display of signage

8. A public redressal system is to be developed in which the aggrieved attendants may approach the superintendent/head of office of health institutions at the time of need rather than taking the law into their hands. The same along with the phone number may be displayed at conspicuous places on the campus

9. The SPs shall take immediate strict and appropriate action as per Law against the miscreants in order to discourage people from such activities