“We call upon law enforcement agencies, policy makers and society at large to take immediate and decisive action,” the letter said. (Photo: PTI)
Expressing anguish over the rape and murder incident in Kolkata, over 70 Padma award-winning doctors have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the speedy enactment of a special law to address violence against healthcare workers and implementation of enhanced safety protocols at medical facilities.
They suggested that the Centre immediately adopt an ordinance to ensure the “severest possible punishment” for those who inflict violence against health workers, whether verbal or physical.
Health workers and others have protested widely following the alleged rape and murder of a female trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and allegations of a botched investigation and cover-up. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and other medical bodies are pushing for a central law to ensure the safety of doctors.
Those who wrote the letter include former ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargav, former Director of AIIMS Delhi Dr Randeep Guleria and Dr SK Sarin, Director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences.
In the letter, the Padma awardees have sought immediate and personal intervention from Prime Minister Modi to address the alarming situation, stating that such acts of brutality shake the very foundations of the service of medical professionals and highlight the urgent need to address violence, particularly against women, girls and healthcare professionals.
Doctors expressed “deep concern and deep anguish” over the horrific incident at the RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata.
“We stand in unwavering solidarity with the victim’s family, whose pain and loss are unimaginable. We also extend our full support to the medical community, which is increasingly confronted with this type of violence in the course of their work. The safety and dignity of health professionals must be safeguarded with the utmost priority,” the letter states.
Doctors said stronger measures were urgently needed to prevent such atrocities.
“We call on law enforcement agencies, policy makers and society at large to take immediate and decisive action,” the letter said.
Doctors stressed the need for law enforcement agencies to more rigorously enforce current legal frameworks to protect health professionals and called for severe and swift sanctions to serve as a deterrent against such crimes.
The letter urges the government to implement enhanced safety protocols within healthcare facilities to ensure a safe working environment for all medical staff.
“We urge the central and state governments to promptly enact and implement a separate law for the protection of health workers, ensuring its speedy implementation on the ground,” the letter said.
“A draft law, the Prevention of Violence against Doctors, Medical Professionals and Medical Institutions Bill, has been ready since 2019, but has not yet been submitted to Parliament for approval and adoption.
“We strongly believe that an ordinance to this effect can be enacted immediately, and the bill should be passed quickly so that all those working in the health care delivery systems in the country can work without fear, in the service of suffering patients,” the letter states.
Doctors also stressed that the ordinance/draft bill must ensure that the most severe punishment possible is applied to those who inflict violence against health workers, whether verbal or physical.
These cases should be resolved quickly by the judiciary and the crimes should be classified as non-bailable.
“May this tragedy serve as a catalyst for real and lasting change. Through this letter, we strongly urge you to protect the medical profession from physical assault and the disfigurement of the dignity and respect of all health workers,” the letter states.
The award-winning doctors include radiologist and founder and CEO of Mahajan Imaging, Dr Harsh Mahajan, Dr Nikhil Tandon, Head of the Department of Endocrinology, AIIMS, Delhi, Dr DS Rana, Chairman of the Department of Nephrology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Dr Sandeep Guleria, Consultant Transplant Surgeon.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First published: August 18, 2024 | 20:45 IS
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