Tamil Nadu directs formation of Internal Complaints Committee in Government Hospitals

Written by Medical Dialogues Team Published On 2025-02-22T09:30:29+05:30 | Updated On 22 Feb 2025 9:30 AM IST

Tenkasi: In response to growing concerns over sexual harassment allegations across Tamil Nadu, the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services has directed all district joint directors (JDs) to establish Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in government hospitals (GHs) where these have not yet been eatablished.

The directive, issued on Wednesday, aims to address harassment complaints by creating a platform for inquiry and resolution across all government hospitals in Tamil Nadu.

Dr M Kannagi, Additional Director (Inspection) of the DMRHS, issued a circular instructing the JDs to form ICCs in hospitals that do not yet have them. The circular emphasized the importance of displaying the details of the committee and the guidelines of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act in public areas of hospitals for greater transparency and awareness.

Also Read: TN doctors raise concerns over transparency in recruitment of 2642 Assistant Surgeons

As per the recent media reports by TNIE, "The government has informed that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has strongly recommended that the hospitals which have not yet constituted an ICC may be asked to do so with immediate effect. The hospitals with a functional ICC are asked to publicly display the details of the committee along with the date of constitution/re-constitution of the committee as well as POSH guidelines for the benefit of all concerned," Dr Kannagi ordered.

In addition to the formation of ICCs, Dr. Kannagi recommended that government hospitals conduct regular gender sensitization programs to foster an environment of respect and proper conduct at the workplace.

According to TNIE, she added, “In view of this matter, all JDs of health services are requested to follow the instructions recommended by NHRC and send an action taken report regarding the formation of ICC in all GHs and implementation of other recommendations of NHRC in GHs to this directorate."

Also Read:17 Rights of Patients to be displayed at medical institutions in Tamil Nadu

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services in Tamil Nadu has issued a directive instructing all government and private hospitals in the state to prominently display the charter of 17 rights of patients, their relatives, and family members.

sexual harassmentgovernment hospitalsworkplace harassmentTamil Nadu government

Medical Dialogues Team