In response to the recent rape and murder of a post-graduate trainee doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical Hospital, the Uttar Pradesh government has issued a comprehensive order to enhance the safety and security of doctors and staff in state hospitals.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has instructed hospital management to prioritize staff safety, citing the Supreme Court’s directives. He emphasised the need to identify and address potential security risks, including individuals loitering in hospitals without patients.
“Some people who are seen in hospitals do not have any patients admitted to the hospital, they stay in the hospitals overnight to rest. Action should be taken against such people. Admit cards should be issued to attendants for night entry in the ward, ICU, resting room, emergency ward, and IPD department,” said Pathak.
He said that during night duty, women doctors and staff nurses have to go to other blocks and wards to see patients. “Security arrangements should be strengthened for their movement. Proper lighting should be made in the hospital premises, residential areas, and hostels at night so that no anti-social element can take advantage of the darkness and come inside,” added the Dy CM.
For security in the hospital premises during night time, surprise inspection should be done by the security officers. The attendants who sleep on the hospital premises at night should also be questioned from time to time, he added.
Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak has directed that the control room should be activated for 24-hour security on the hospital premises. Necessary security personnel should be deployed in the control room. Retired army personnel should be recruited to increase the security of the hospital premises.
Coordination and regular communication should be established with the police station nearest to the hospital.
He decided to form an internal sexual harassment committee under all legal provisions, an internal sexual harassment committee should be formed for women doctors and women employees in the hospital.
“The CCTV cameras installed in the hospital premises should be checked from time to time. The number of cameras should be sufficient and all should be functional. Police verification of contracts and outsourcing staff in the hospital must be done,” said the Dy CM.
He said that if there is violence against doctors or medical staff in the hospital premises, then an FIR will be lodged by the in-charge of the hospital or the person authorized by him. “This will be called institutional FIR. The report will be filed by the hospital and not by the affected person,” added Pathak.
These measures aim to create a safer environment for healthcare professionals in Uttar Pradesh.