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Karnataka government has now made concerted efforts to strengthen the security measures in all hospitals across 31 districts. It has mandated that all hospitals will need to display the penalty details if any untoward incident takes place.
The move is in response to the recent violent incidents in the medical institutions and the protests by resident doctors following the tragic incident at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. In fact, the Union ministry of health and family welfare too called to adhere to the legal provisions and display the information to strictly prevent violence in both the local language and English at conspicuous locations within the hospital premises.
The state government has now amended in 2024 its Karnataka Prohibition of Violence against Medicare Services Personnel and Damage to Property Act, 2009. The new law says violence against doctors and hospital property are strictly prohibited. Further, any intentional insult of medicare service personnel in a hospital is banned The penalty clause for violence in a hospital premises states that this would be in contravention of Section 3 where the attackers will be punished with imprisonment for a period of not less than three years which may be extended up to 7 years with a fine not less that Rs. 25,000 and Rs 2 lakh.
In addition, to the punishment specified in Section 4 of the amended Prohibition of Violence against Medicare Services Personnel and Damage to Property Act, the offender will be liable to a penalty of twice the amount of purchase price of medical equipment damaged and loss caused to the property as determined by the Court trying the offender. If the offender fails to pay the fine under Sub-section (1), the sum will be recovered under the provisions of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, as if it were to be an arrears of land revenue.
The communication from the Karnataka Commissionerate of health and family welfare has now instructed that all hospitals must establish hospital security committee and violence prevention cell to prevent such incidents. This will be led by the medical superintendent or dean or director or district surgeon or chief medical officer of the medical centre. There will be a resident medical officer or administrative officer as the member secretary. There will also be a female doctor, junior doctor, security supervisor ad hospital management staff as member of the committee and cell.
The committee will now need to adhere to stringent protocols in the hospital where it will introduce entry passes, for the public and patient attendants to regulate access to critical areas. The female doctors will not be allowed to work alone ad must be accompanied by female nurses, paramedical staff or Group D employees.
Adequate lighting will be installed across areas where female staff are present. After 4.30 pm limited access to hospitals to a single entry point will be permitted only and entrances will be monitored carefully. There will be regular patrols between 12 am and 4 am with close coordination to the jurisdictional police stations. All CCTV and cameras will undergone constant checks and maintenance.
According to junior female doctors at Victoria and Lady Curzon Bowring Hospitals in Karnataka, this strengthening of security measures is the best that could happen for them to work in a safe environment.
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