After Kolkata doctor’s rape-murder, NMC asks medical colleges to ensure safe workplace, send report within 48 hrs of each incident

The NMC notice goes on to say that all corridors and campus be well lit in the evening for staff to walk safely from one place to the other, other than installing CCTV cameras and adequate security.

Doctors remained on strike for the second day today at Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospita. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

The country’s apex medical education regulator, the National Medical Commission (NMC), has issued a notice to all medical colleges and institutions to ensure a safe working environment. Measures such as installing CCTV cameras in sensitive areas and availability of adequate security staff have been suggested.

This comes after nationwide protest of doctors following the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College.

The NMC notice states: “All medical colleges are requested to develop a policy for a safe work environment within the college and hospital campus for all the staff members including faculty, medical students, and resident doctors. The policy should ensure adequate safety measures at OPD, wards, casualty, hostels and other open areas in the campus and residential quarters.”

The notice goes on to say that all corridors and campus be well lit in the evening for staff to walk safely from one place to the other, other than installing CCTV cameras and adequate security.

The notice states that any instance of violence against medical students should be promptly investigated by college management and FIRs should be lodged with the police.

Most importantly, it has demanded that an action taken report be sent to the regulator within 48 hours of the incident.

Anonna Dutt

Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country’s space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University’s Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More

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