New Delhi

Delhi Govt. to bring Bill on security for medical staff

NEW DELHI: In a major move to ensure that medical staff working in the Capital’s hospitals are safe and have a good work environment, the State Health and Family Welfare Ministry will be introducing a Bill in the upcoming session of the Delhi Assembly recommending three years’ imprisonment and Rs.10,000 fine for anyone attacking on-duty medical staff and destroying hospital property.

Delhi Health and Family Welfare Minister Yoganand Shastri said: “Medical staff in our government hospitals have been working under tremendous pressure because of the increased number of cases of assault against them by the relatives of patients. They also often damage hospital property. Several patients have to suffer because of the manpower lost due to strikes which result from these attacks. We feel there is a need to bring in adequate measures to ensure that the trend is not allowed to continue.”

Welcoming the move, Delhi Medical Council member Dr. Anil Bansal said: “Doctors and other medical staff have been demanding strict action against those who attack medical staff and damage hospital property. We are encouraged by the latest move and hope that this proves to an adequate deterrent and improves the work condition. This should be a cognisable offence which is non-bailable.”

Meanwhile, much to the relief of patients, resident doctors at Bara Hindu Rao Hospital called off their five-day-old strike on Monday after the authorities agreed to increase security and also began talks about setting up a police booth in the hospital.

“The hospital has asked for private security guards to ensure that the medical staffs do not face harassment. The hospital authorities claimed that they were also working at setting up a permanent police post,” said Resident Doctors’ Association joint secretary Dr. Munna Vishwakarma.

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