GTB Hospital Shootout: Armed Guards, Metal Detectors to be deployed at Delhi Hospitals to Strengthen Security

New Delhi: A day after a patient was shot dead inside a ward of Delhi's Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday said that the city government has decided to deploy two armed guards and metal detectors at emergency entries of hospitals in the national capital.

The meeting between the minister and the representatives of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) came a day after a 32-year-old man was shot dead inside a ward of the GTB Hospital in a case of mistaken identity. Two men have been arrested in connection with the case.

The incident took place in Ward Number 24 of the hospital when a 32-year-old man was shot dead by a teenager. The victim was admitted to the hospital on June 23 and was undergoing treatment for an abdominal infection, according to police.

According to an official statement issued by the RDA, the strike came after their long-pending demand to give doctors ample security went unheeded by the city government.

According to a PTI report, Bharadwaj said in a post on X, "Met Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) delegation lead by the National Chairman, accompanied by National General Secretary, Chief Advisor to discuss the recent incidents of violence in government Hospitals. Following decisions have been taken: 1) Installation of metal detectors at the emergency entries of hospitals. 2) Deployment of two armed guards at the emergency entries of major hospitals".

"Strict legal action against assaulters in accordance with existing laws and regulations. Installation and maintenance of CCTV cameras at Hospitals with proper functioning," he said in the same post.

As per a media report in The Indian Express, “The administration hasn’t provided anything. There are no security scanners at entry points. You can enter here with 50-odd people at any point and no one will say anything,” claimed Dr Jitendra Kumar, president of the nursing association. He said that after 48 hours, they will also close the emergency ward if their demands are not met.

“Every year, the same security agency gets the tender. They always deploy fewer security personnel than what’s on paper… The MD is not even coming and meeting us. He is sending people to write names of doctors who are involved in the protest,” alleged Dr Hansraj. 

Rohan Krishnan, chairman of FAIMA, in a post on X, said they had a fruitful meeting with Bharadwaj.

"We hope collectively we will be improving the conditions at Delhi Govt Hospitals to provide best healthcare in the country. We @FAIMAINDIA are very serious about the safety of doctors in the hospital. Violence cannot be tolerated. Henceforth, we expect strong actions on the issue," he said in the post, reports news agency PTI.