Centre to form committee to ensure medical staff's safety amid uproar over Kolkata tragedy

NEW DELHI: The Union government has decided to form a committee that would suggest all possible measures for ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals.

The government made the decision after considering the concerns expressed by various healthcare stakeholders, including FORDA, IMDA and Resident Doctors' Association of Governmental Medical Colleges & Hospitals of Delhi.

It has also invited the state governments to present their suggestion to the committee on the matter.

The central government has also requested the protesting doctors to resume their duties in the "larger public interest" in view of increased Dengue and Malaria cases.

On Friday, the central government released a notice, directing government hospitals to register an FIR within six hours against any verbal abuse or physical violence meted out to healthcare staff.

"Recently it has been observed that violence has become common against Doctors and other healthcare staff in Government Hospitals. A number of Health workers suffer physical violence during the course of their duty. Many are threatened or exposed to verbal aggression," Friday's brief read.

The government also said the head of institution shall be responsible for filing an FIR within the stipulated time period.

"Most of this violence is done by either patient or patient's attendants. In view of above. It is stated that in the event of any violence against any health care worker while on duty, the Head of Institution shall be responsible for filing an Institutional FIR within a maximum of 6 hours of the incident," it further read.

The central government's notice comes amid massive uproar across the nation over the rape-murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College. Anger over the brutal rape and murder of the doctor showed no signs of abating on Saturday as doctors and medical representatives across India have launched various forms of protest.
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