Can't Compromise With Security: Doctors Demand CISF for Security at Hospitals

New Delhi: Concerned over the instances of violence against medical professionals and their security, the doctors under the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) are now demanding Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in the hospital.

Recently the matter was discussed by Delhi based doctors in their meeting at RML Hospital. Already the doctors have written to the Union Government authorities and submitted their demands.

"If the authorities do not take cognizance of the matter, we will take further decisions," the General Secretary of FORDA, Dr Sarvesh Pandey informed Medical Dialogues.

The FORDA meeting was organized at RML Hospital on January 14, 2023 to address the disturbing incidents of violence against medical professionals in healthcare facilities. Chaired by the President and General Secretary of FORDA, the meeting was attended by the primary representatives of the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) & Lok Nayak Hospital, RML Hospital, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) & Safdarjung Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC), University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) & GTB Hospital, Deets Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital (DDU), & Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital (BSA).

Referring to the meeting, FORDA mentioned in its recent Press Release, "The agenda for the meeting centred around FORDA's vision for resident upliftment and the pressing need to address the issues at hand. A primary focus of the discussion was the matter of security concerns within hospitals and the various strategies to enhance the protection of doctors."

The doctors in their meeting discussed the necessity of CISF personnel for the purpose of ensuring security of doctors. In this regard, the PR further mentioned, "One solution proposed was the deployment of law enforcement personnel, specifically those of the Police or Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), in areas of the hospital identified as prone to violence. This approach was deemed as a viable alternative as it would provide a sense of security for medical professionals while they attend to their duties. without causing alarm to the general public. Augmenting security and surveillance by the means of installing snore CCTV cameras and their corresponding monitoring stations with P.A systems in such areas was also proposed to be implemented."

"FORDA representatives from the aforementioned hospitals, emphasized the importance of taking swift measured to address these security concerns and ensure the safety of doctors in hospitals. They will continue to work in close collaboration with hospital administration and law enforcement to identify and implement the most effective measures to safeguard medical professionals and patients," further mentioned release.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues, the General Secretary of FORDA Dr. Pandey said, "Security of doctors is the first priority and we cannot compromise it at any cost. Doctors cannot work in an environment where they do not feel safe."

"Authorities are concerned over the fact that presence of security might make the patients uncomfortable. But we do not want to make patients uncomfortable. We just want that security officers remain present at hospital to address unpleasant situations and offer security to all the medical professionals including the resident doctors," he further added.

Also Read: Why take away security from hospital? LHMC resident doctors demand reinstatement of terminated security personnel

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that expressing concern over increasing trend of violence against doctors and healthcare professionals across the country, a team of resident doctors of state-run Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital had written to the Union Health Ministry regarding their demand for the deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) or Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at hospitals so that they can work freely in a safe and healthy environment.

Violence against doctors and healthcare workers has been one of the most important and unsolved issues of the medical fraternity. Numerous incidents of violence have been reported over the years. These instances reached their peak earlier this year when Rajasthan-based Dr. Archana Sharma had committed suicide after being booked for the murder of a patient who had died due to Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). Doctors are being beaten up daily by unruly attendants but have got only limited relief in terms of law. Doctors have demanded Central Doctors Protection Act, however the same has still been out of reach of doctors.

Although the new Draft RMP (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 2022 have empowered the doctors to refuse treatment to the patients in case of "abusive, unruly, and violent patients or relatives", there is still no concrete solution regarding the instances of violence that the doctors need to face on a daily basis.

While on the one hand, the Delhi doctors are demanding the presence of CISF security personnel for ensuring the safety of the doctors, recently the state-run Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated SSK & KSC Hospitals had issued an order temporarily withdrawn the services of marshals and bouncers hired for security purposes in the hospital.

The resident doctors of KHMC were not happy with such a move. Opposing the decision of the hospital, these doctors had written to the hospital authorities to point out how instances of assault on resident doctors were increasing day by day and how trimming the workforce of hospital security would only make it worse.

Also Read: Violence against Doctors: Resident Doctors of Delhi demand private security personnel at hospital campus