Violence at health workers: FIR must be filed within 6 hrs, says health ministry
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New Delhi: Amid widespread protests over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, the health ministry has announced that health institutions will be obliged to file an FIR within six hours in case of violence against any health worker on duty. Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Atul Goyal issued an office notice to the directors and medical superintendents of central government hospitals, including AIIMS, and principals of all medical colleges in the country.
The notice said that there have been increased incidents of violence against doctors and other healthcare workers in government hospitals in recent times. Many health workers have experienced physical abuse in the course of their duties. Many were threatened or verbally assaulted, and most of the violent incidents were perpetrated by patients or patient’s attendants.
The notice continued that in view of the mentioned, it has been stated that if there is any violence against any health worker while on duty, the head of the institution will be responsible for filing an FIR.
The announcement comes amid protests over the rape and murder of a doctor at the RG Kar Medical College Hospital in Kolkata. Following gruesome, merciless crime against the health workers, doctors and medical staff went on widespread strikes demanding a safer working environment.
The trainee doctor was discovered with injury marks in a seminar hall at the medical college. An autopsy confirmed that she had been raped and murdered. It was on the night of August 9 that the trainee doctor’s body was found.