Mamata directs stricter hospital security, zero tolerance for harassment at state-run medical facilities

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday directed officials to ensure the safety and security of patients, visitors, and doctors in medical establishments across the state, wherever necessary.

Chief Secretary Manoj Pant had convened a meeting regarding security aspects in the state hospitals at Nabanna that was addressed over phone by the Chief Minister, who is also in charge of the Health department, from her Kalighat residence.

A senior Nabanna official said that Banerjee emphasised that harassment of anyone coming for treatment will not be tolerated under any circumstances and instructed the administration to adopt a “zero-tolerance approach” towards such offences.

According to sources, Banerjee expressed her displeasure over CCTV monitoring in the hospitals. She has sought a report on the hospital-wise status of the CCTVs and the expenditure for repairing those that have become defunct.

She also raised questions over the proper surveillance of the CCTVs that are functional, referring to the recent incident at SSKM in which a 15-year-old girl was molested inside a washroom at the Trauma Care Centre. She opined that proper CCTV monitoring may have averted such an incident.

Banerjee has also instructed for special training of the security staff of the hospitals and a photo identity card for every security personnel.

As private security agencies are responsible for providing security, their uniform is the same, she emphasised sporting such photo identity cards while performing their duties. It needs to be mentioned that the person who has been accused of the recent molestation at SSKM is a contractual employee at a state hospital in Sealdah.

Banerjee has asked to prevent the entry of such contractual security guards of a particular hospital in another state-run Health establishment at will.