FAIMA delegation meets Delhi Health Minister over workplace safety concerns

New Delhi: To discuss the safety of female healthcare professionals in government hospitals, a delegation from the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), led by patron Dr Rohan Krishnan, met with Delhi Health Minister Dr Saurabh Bhardwaj on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the FAIMA delegations proposed the idea of establishing a proper centralized committee dedicated to handling complaints of sexual harassment in Delhi’s government hospitals.

In response, the minister ensured about setting a committee that will look after the proper channelling and addressing of issues related to sexual harassment in the government hospitals in the capital.

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The meeting focused on the pressing issue of sexual harassment faced by female healthcare professionals in the capital's government hospitals and how they were ensured that these issues would be resolved considering them an urgent need of an hour.

The proposed committee will work in conjunction with the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and operate under the direct supervision of the Delhi Health Ministry.  

"It is added that this committee will be under strict vigilance of Delhi health ministry itself and work alongside ICC for better supervision and a strict follow up of such cases reported by female healthcare professionals," mentioned the press release of FAIMA. 

Further, praising the minister for his proactive approach, the association said, "FAIMA appreciate the concern of Dr Saurabh Bhardwaj ji regarding the same as this is a major steps towards providing safe and secure environment to a female healthcare professional at Delhi government Hospitals."

This initiative was taken after the brutal incident against a female doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital who was allegedly raped and murdered in a seminar room inside the hospital campus. This shocking incident triggered anger and rage not only in the medical fraternity but also in the general public who are protesting alongside the doctors in demand of justice. 

Presently, 5 junior medics in Kolkata and two in North Bengal are on fast-unto-death demanding justice for their colleague. On October 5, six junior doctors from the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front started an indefinite hunger strike. Later, another doctor joined them taking the tally to 7 in total. 

Also read- Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: FEMA calls 2-day strike in Siliguri Medical Colleges