Health Bulletin 20/ August/ 2024

While considering the case of the horrific incident of rape and murder of a PG medical doctor at Kolkata-based RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Supreme Court has set up a National Task Force to give recommendations of the modalities to be followed across India to ensure safety of senior and junior doctors employed across the medical colleges/hospitals in the country.

In a shocking incident, a 20-year-old nurse who was on night duty at the private hospital in Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh was allegedly raped by a doctor after being held hostage. The main accused, along with a ward boy and another nurse, has been arrested in connection with the case.

According to the complaint filed by the victim’s father, the incident occurred around midnight on Sunday. Three people were arrested in the case, Superintendent of Police (Rural) Sandeep Kumar Meena said.

Amid the massive outrage and protests by doctors across the country demanding safety at their workplace, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued several directions to the Heads of all Central Government Hospitals/Institutes to ensure safety and security of doctors and healthcare workers.

These measures, recommended by the Ministry, include installing sufficient numbers of High-resolution CCTV cameras, employing adequate number of well-trained security guards, setting up control rooms at the institutes, identification badges for staff, patients, visitors, restricting access to certain areas, identifying dark spots in the campus, well-secured duty rooms with basic amenities etc.

The father of the Kolkata postgraduate medico who was raped and murdered at R G Kar Medical College Hospital, Kolkata has chosen not to disclose specifics about his conversation with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The father of the deceased doctor said, "It is not lawfully appropriate to give details on our conversation with the CBI. I can't give you details on the questioning that has been done in connection with this case. They have recorded our statement and taken it in writing. I express gratitude to everyone, regarding the protest that has been happening across the country and world. I consider everyone who is standing with us, as my sons and daughters", news agency ANI reported.