UP issues guidelines for safety of docs, med staff

Lucknow: Drawing lessons from the horrific rape-murder of a doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College, the Uttar Pradesh govt issued a comprehensive 21-point guideline to ensure the safety and well-being of resident doctors and other medical staff deployed across medical colleges and institutes, particularly during night shifts.Issued by chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, the guidelines cite Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, which guarantee the right to equality, a discrimination-free environment, and the right to a dignified life for every citizen.In line with the state govt's "zero tolerance" policy towards crime and criminals, the guidelines aim to enhance the security of health workers and provide them with a safe working environment to prevent violence against health personnel working in various govt medical colleges, autonomous state medical colleges, institutions, and universities.The guidelines include making provisions for the safe movement of resident doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel during night duty in various hospital blocks and hostel buildings.The institutions are directed to lodge an FIR at the nearest police station on their own initiative in any event of violence against a health worker, without waiting for a complaint from the victim, and to take immediate action in coordination with the police.Instructions are also issued for setting up an internal complaints committee for the redressal of complaints of sexual harassment of women under the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013.The guidelines make it mandatory for medical institutions and hospitals to conduct police verification and screening of every staff member hired on a contract basis.To bolster security in hospitals and medical institutes, the guidelines prescribed engaging the Uttar Pradesh Ex-Servicemen Welfare Corporation Limited as far as possible.The guidelines stated that hospitals would be required to arrange for "regular security patrolling" of the entire premises during night hours and install CCTV cameras at all entry and exit points and corridors, which should be monitored 24/7 through a manned control room.Institutions have been advised to explore the feasibility of setting up police posts on the premises, depending on the number of people visiting the institution and the number of beds and facilities available.Furthermore, institutions would be required to form a ‘hospital security committee' and a ‘violence prevention committee', comprising senior doctors and administrative officials, to strategise and implement appropriate security measures, regulate the entry of the public and patient attendants into key areas of the hospital, and adhere to a strict "visitor pass policy" for attendants.To prepare health staff to deal with grief-stricken and crisis-stricken attendants and relatives, the guidelines directed hospitals and medical institutions to organise workshops.Following the Kolkata rape-murder incident last month, the Resident Doctors' Association of Uttar Pradesh had also gone on strike at various medical colleges and institutions.Lucknow: Drawing lessons from the horrific rape-murder of a doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College, the Uttar Pradesh govt issued a comprehensive 21-point guideline to ensure the safety and well-being of resident doctors and other medical staff deployed across medical colleges and institutes, particularly during night shifts.Issued by chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, the guidelines cite Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, which guarantee the right to equality, a discrimination-free environment, and the right to a dignified life for every citizen.In line with the state govt's "zero tolerance" policy towards crime and criminals, the guidelines aim to enhance the security of health workers and provide them with a safe working environment to prevent violence against health personnel working in various govt medical colleges, autonomous state medical colleges, institutions, and universities.The guidelines include making provisions for the safe movement of resident doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel during night duty in various hospital blocks and hostel buildings.The institutions are directed to lodge an FIR at the nearest police station on their own initiative in any event of violence against a health worker, without waiting for a complaint from the victim, and to take immediate action in coordination with the police.Instructions are also issued for setting up an internal complaints committee for the redressal of complaints of sexual harassment of women under the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013.The guidelines make it mandatory for medical institutions and hospitals to conduct police verification and screening of every staff member hired on a contract basis.To bolster security in hospitals and medical institutes, the guidelines prescribed engaging the Uttar Pradesh Ex-Servicemen Welfare Corporation Limited as far as possible.The guidelines stated that hospitals would be required to arrange for "regular security patrolling" of the entire premises during night hours and install CCTV cameras at all entry and exit points and corridors, which should be monitored 24/7 through a manned control room.Institutions have been advised to explore the feasibility of setting up police posts on the premises, depending on the number of people visiting the institution and the number of beds and facilities available.Furthermore, institutions would be required to form a ‘hospital security committee' and a ‘violence prevention committee', comprising senior doctors and administrative officials, to strategise and implement appropriate security measures, regulate the entry of the public and patient attendants into key areas of the hospital, and adhere to a strict "visitor pass policy" for attendants.To prepare health staff to deal with grief-stricken and crisis-stricken attendants and relatives, the guidelines directed hospitals and medical institutions to organise workshops.Following the Kolkata rape-murder incident last month, the Resident Doctors' Association of Uttar Pradesh had also gone on strike at various medical colleges and institutions.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Valentine's day wishes, messages and quotes !