Drafting model to upgrade doctors’ safety laws: Centre

During the meeting, it was informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs would draft a “model legislation” as an advisory for states/UTs to adapt and make changes to their existing healthcare worker protection laws.

In a letter on August 22 after the first meeting, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra had called on hospitals and medical colleges to constitute internal sexual harassment committees, for there to be provisions for the safe movement of resident doctors/nurses within different blocks and hostel buildings during night hours, and for CCTV cameras on the premises of such institutions to be upgraded.

On August 28, Chandra and newly appointed Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan held a meeting with all chief secretaries and DGPs of states/UTs to discuss the issues related to working conditions in hospitals and to deliberate on the immediate measures to be implemented as per directions of the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court had directed the Union Health Ministry to engage with the chief secretaries and DGPs of all states and UTs to ensure that measures are taken for the safety of medical professionals.

“During the (August 28) meeting, Mohan is learnt to have said that all hospitals with heavy footfall are particularly vulnerable, and that any incidents that occur within hospital premises has a potential to turn into a law-and-order situation…,” a source said.

The source said Mohan proposed that such hospitals be identified and given priority for security upgrades and that he asked for comprehensive security audits be conducted “after collaborating with the hospital authorities, local health, police authorities and focusing on some of the vulnerable areas — emergency rooms and ICUs”.

Mohan also emphasised on the importance of installing and maintaining CCTV surveillance in the “high-risk zones” and integrating these systems with the local police to ensure quick access to footage in order to enable effective response, the source said. “(Health Secretary) Chandra also asked for joint security audits to be conducted and that district magistrates, SPs, and deans/directors of district hospitals and medical colleges be involved in this process,” the source said.

In the meeting, Home Secretary Mohan informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs would draft a “model legislation”. “It was pointed out that many states have their own existing legislations related to hospital security and violence, but eventually it was decided that these legislations need to be carefully reviewed and modified as necessary to align with current demands and the latest legal frameworks,” the source said. The “model legislation” would be a guide for the states/UTs on modifying their laws in this regard.

It was also proposed that there should be “robust background checks for all the outsourced personnel and contractual workers employed in the hospitals”, the source said.