Maha Doctors warn of protest if govt fails to act on safety demands
Doctors
Mumbai: Doctors in Maharashtra have demanded round-the-clock security cover for women doctors across all government and BMC-run medical colleges following the rape of a second-year MBBS student in West Bengal's Durgapur on October 10.
The doctors, while condemning the incident, recalled the brutal incident at RG Kar Medical College, where a trainee doctor was raped and murdered in the seminar hall of the hospital in August 2024.
Further, MARD and FAIMA have warned that if the government fails to act swiftly on these safety demands, resident doctors across Maharashtra may consider launching protests to press for immediate implementation of adequate security measures, reports Free Press Journal.
The doctor pointed out that despite assurances from the government on women doctors' safety following the Kolkata case, the promised security reforms remain pending in action. As a result, the doctors called for stronger security measures in medical colleges and hospitals in Maharashtra. They suggested that, similar to hospitals abroad, women doctors should be accompanied by security personnel while moving around hospital premises, especially during night shifts.
In this regard, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) and the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) have urged the state government to provide comprehensive security cover for women doctors in all government and BMC-run medical colleges.
The doctors have demanded that hospital security be tightened and that more female security guards be deployed. They have also sought round-the-clock patrolling within hospital premises and secure duty rooms for women doctors inside hospital buildings.
In addition, hospitals should arrange safe movement for women doctors between buildings or wards, and rotate security personnel weekly to avoid over-familiarity. The associations have also called for hospital administrations to be held accountable for the safety and well-being of all junior and female staff.
MARD and FAIMA have warned that if the government fails to act swiftly on these safety demands, resident doctors across Maharashtra may consider launching protests to press for immediate implementation of adequate security measures, reports Free Press Journal.
Commenting on this, MARD president Dr. Sachin Patil told Free Press Journal, "Despite assurances following the Kolkata case, the promised security reforms remain largely on paper. Many medical colleges in Jalgaon, Gondia and Gadchiroli still do not have Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) protection, and where MSF personnel are deployed, their numbers are inadequate. CCTV cameras are insufficient, and several parts of hospital premises remain dimly lit and unsafe for women staff."
FAIMA president Dr. Akshay Dongardive stressed that safety measures should extend to all women working in hospitals—including nurses, sanitation workers, administrative employees and female patients. He said that every woman within the hospital premises should feel safe, irrespective of her role.
Also read- Police rule out gangrape in Durgapur MBBS student case
