Doctors’ strike: 1,100 guards to be deployed at hospitals

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government — in the wake of a spate of attacks on doctors by relatives of patients — conducted a security audit of 16 government hospitals in the state last week and has decided to deploy 1,100 security guards from the state-run State Security Force there. Nearly 700 of them will be deployed by Saturday, while the others would be roped in by April 15. Meanwhile, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials claim that alarm systems have been installed at three major civic hospitals following the resident doctors’ strike. 

Medical education minister Girish Mahajan said that the security personnel are not only trained to handle untoward incidents but also to speak sensitively to patients’ relatives during emergencies. The installation of CCTVs and an emergency bell is on the cards to bring about a foolproof security arrangement. The system will be installed at places where doctor assaults are frequent, they said. 

In the past one week, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mr Mahajan held several meetings with miffed resident doctors. “An audit was conducted by government agencies after which it was decided that 1,100 personnel should be enlisted. We have spoken to the state security force, which will provide trained guards. Meanwhile, we have told nearby police stations to beef up security, which they did,” Mr Mahajan said. 

Mr Mahajan also said hospitals would soon be equipped with CCTVs. “We have instructed hospitals to install an emergency bell to prevent untoward incidents. We have taken every step to ensure that doctors are protected and can work without any pressure,” Mr Mahajan said. 

Read: Doctors revisit terrifying assaults by patients’ kin

The minister has also given his nod to offering health insurance to doctors. About 410 CCTV cameras have been installed in all state-run hospitals, while there are 450 CCTV cameras in civic-run hospitals. The state government has roped in 794 private security guards in the past two years. The government has also instructed all hospitals to keep only one gate open and allow two relatives of patients inside in order to control crowds, Mr Mahajan said. The minister has told doctors to cooperate to avoid any scuffle or untoward incident with the relatives of the patients. 

Meanwhile, following mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar’s directives, the BMC has installed instant alarm system at the three major civic hospitals to raise an alarm in case of attacks on doctors. Deputy municipal commissioner (health) Sunil Dhamane said, “An instant alarm system has been set up at KEM, Sion and Nair hospitals. It has been installed at places like the operation theatre and intensive care unit where doctors usually get assaulted.” Whenever there is a possibility of an attack, they can raise an alarm and immediately alert security. The securities have been asked to reach the spot urgently and help doctors on such occasions. This alarm will go off in the dean’s office and the police post on the hospital campus.

Dr Prakash Wakode, joint director, Directorate of Medical Education and Research, has issued the orders for the deployment of the security force and asked the police to arm its personnel in all state–run and civic-run hospitals especially medical colleges. 

Read: A law protects doctors, but medicos say not enough

“As per the existing arrangements, 1,750 guards will be posted in all state-run hospitals in the city while all four state-run hospitals will have three police sub-inspectors each. There are 1,685 security guards in all the 16 civic-run hospitals,” he said.

Workshop soon to boost doctor-patient relationship
The Directorate of Medical Education & Research Mumbai (DMER) will soon hold a three-month long workshop for city-based resident doctors providing tips for improving patient-doctor relationship. 

The recent instances of violence against doctors and subsequent protests by medical practitioners have emphasised the need for a different mode of the doctor-patient relationship. However, it is important to acknowledge the root cause of the increasing assaults on medical practitioners, which is stress, an influx of patients handled by one doctor and the inability to explain the ailments to patient’s relatives.

Dr Prakash Wakode, joint director, DMER, said, “An effective communication skill workshop will be held for the medicos to deal with the their stress as well as to explain and talk in a better way with patients.” “The workshop would be of three months, in which all the residents medicos will participate as it is compulsory,” he said.

“This will help the doctors give fine service to rediscover the spirit of selfless examination that define their skills. Only then will people start respecting doctors again and make the doctor —patient relationship a positive equation,” he added.

Ground rules
Many compounders and doctors in state and civic-run hospitals violate basic health rules while inside hospitals. Many of them eat inside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and even wear their regular shoes inside the ICU. Health officials say there are certain rules that have to be followed in hospitals, such as hand washing, cleaning, sterilisation, disinfection and operation theatre sterilisation.