In the backdrop of growing instances of assaults on doctors, the state legislative council chairman Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar has directed the Maharashtra government to set up armed police chowkies at public hospitals across the state.
“If possible, the state government should set up police chowkies at public hospitals to prevent attack on doctors,” said Mr Naik-Nimbalkar in the legislative council on Friday.
The issue was raised by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator Kiran Pawaskar, who said there have been frequents attacks on the doctors of KEM, Sion and Nair hospitals by the patients’ families and relatives.
“There are 650 posts of security guards lying vacant in these hospitals. Despite spending crores of rupees on security contractors, security of these hospitals continue to remain shoddy,” Mr Pawaskar.
In his reply, the minister for medical education Vinod Tawde said that the state government, in consultation with Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (Mard), has identified sensitive centres like emergency wards, operation theatres, delivery wards etc. where most of the assault on doctors take place.
The installation of close circuit television (CCTV) cameras at these sensitive centres would start from next month. In KEM, Nair and Sion hospitals, 145, 133 and 140 additional CCTVs will be installed respectively, said the minister.
He also added that according to the directions of the high court, 18 private security helpers have been provided in Nair Hospital. While 48 security helpers have been appointed at KEM Hospital, at Sion Hospital 27 private security helpers have been taken in.
