Security system in all state-run hospitals to witness overhaul, say senior health officials

Kolkata: The Health department has come up with certain steps to check the incidents of assault on on-duty doctors in state government hospitals and medical colleges in the state.

Prodded by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to review the security arrangements in various hospitals, senior Health department officials held a high-level meeting at the Swasthya Bhawan to review the security measures in the hospitals. After thorough examination, the officials have taken a decision to conduct a complete overhauling of the security system in all the government-run hospitals across the state.

The state Health department has decided that security audit would be conducted in every medical college and hospital by the police and the health department officials within a week and necessary steps would be taken to beef up security. Senior police officers and health officials will carry out a detailed inquiry to identify the security lapses.

It was also decided during the meeting that a security management protocol would be in place restricting the entry and exit of the patient party and the visitors. The whole system would be monitored by the health officials on a regular basis. The main purpose of the step is to ensure that no outsiders can get easy access to the hospital wards.

Sensitisation of doctors as well as outsourced security personnel would be done by senior police officers regarding the dealing with the patient party in case of grievances. In case of potential threats, the police posted at the outpost would take immediate action. CCTV coverage would be made more effective at all the medical colleges and hospitals across the state. There will also be a single point of contact regarding security, a press statement issued by the Health department mentioned.

The Health department is also contemplating on increasing the security personnel inside campuses apart from the police officers. It may be mentioned that the state government had set up police outposts at all the medical colleges in the city following incidents of violence. The department will also conduct an assessment to increase the number of outsourced security personnel. Appropriate steps would be taken for engaging professionally competent security agencies. Police officers posted at the hospitals will work in close coordination with the security personnel.

A hot-line alarm system would be installed in all the medical colleges and mock drill would be conducted regularly. Progress made on the decisions would be reviewed within two weeks with all the stakeholders. The department will also review the deployment of security personnel. There will be time-to-time monitoring by the health officials at all the hospitals to review the security aspects.