'Code Grey Protocol' to be implemented in Karnataka Medical Colleges for doctors' safety

Bengaluru: Amidst the demands of doctors across the country for safety and security at their workplace, the Karnataka Government is planning to initiate a "Code Grey Protocol" which exists in the medical colleges and hospitals in Kerala.

Further, the State Government will also conduct continuous security audits to ensure the safety of women doctors, nurses, and other women staff in the medical college, The Hindu has reported.

The Kerala Health Department framed the Code Grey Protocol in March 2024 to ensure the safety of health workers, patients, and hospitals and by alerting the hospital staff to a dangerous or combative person in the hospital or of any criminal activities on the premises.

Code Grey Protocol, drawn up by the Health Department of Kerala government to ensure the safety of health workers, patients and hospitals in March 2024, is aimed at alerting the hospital staff to a dangerous or combative person in the hospital or criminal activity on the premises. The protocol also calls for extending psychological support and legal protection to the employees at a hospital.

Also Read: Code Violet: What should doctors do? Here's what the latest Govt Guidelines say

As per the latest media report by The Hindu, the Karnataka Government has also decided to frame up rules to recruit ex-servicemen for security and conduct continuous security audits. At present, most medical colleges and hospitals have private security agencies for security, who are often found not to be fit. The State has now decided that the appointment of these security personnel should be properly screened through the Police Department to make sure that able-bodied people are employed for such positions.

Commenting on the matter, the Director of the Directorate of Medical Education Dr. B. L Sujatha Rathod told the Daily, "It is common to rush to the rescue after untoward incidents occur. However, our aim is to take precautions and prevent any untoward incidents in medical colleges. Steps will be taken to start a control room in every medical college and implement a continuous monitoring system by ex-servicemen. Along with this, steps will be taken to deploy Home Guards compulsorily."

Apart from this, the Government is also planning to make mandatory personal safety devices with self-alarm mandatory for all women staff of the medical colleges. These devices will have artificial intelligence technology. At the time of need, the women just need to press a button and an alarm will go off or transmit information to the control room.

While all the medical colleges in Karnataka already have Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) committees, a task force will be set up in the Department of Medical Education and it will include members of the POSH Committee, college management and students. 

Further, the State has also decided launching a 24/7 toll-free helpline. "Already, most of the women’s safety rules have been implemented in government medical colleges and hospitals, and we have sought feedback from them on the implementation. After receiving feedback, regulations will be formulated and implemented. Along with this, emphasis will also be placed on the management of stress and mental health of women doctors and staff working for long periods," added Mr. Rathod.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that after the recent horrific incident of rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata-based RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the National Medical Commission (NMC) had issued an advisory, asking the medical colleges to ensure the safety of doctors by developing a policy towards a safe work environment on the campus for all staff members including doctors and medical students.

In the advisory issued under the authority of Dr. B Srinivas, NMC Secretary, the Commission had the medical colleges should develop a policy that "should ensure adequate safety measures at OPD, wards, casualty, hostels and other open areas on campus and in residential quarters. Corridors and campus be well-lit in the evening for staff to walk safely from one place to other and all sensitive areas be covered by CCTV for monitoring."

Also Read: NMC speaks up after Kolkata incident, directs medical colleges to ensure safety of doctors