Doctor Attacked Again; Odisha Health Dept Seeks Protection

August 19, 2016 Government

Bhubaneswar: At a time the Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department sought protection of the doctors working in different health facilities throughout the state, a doctor in Balasore district headquarters hospital was attacked by the kin of a patient alleging medical negligence.

The doctor identified as Bharat Samal has been admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after his condition deteriorated.

Recently, doctors at the Puri district headquarters hospital were assaulted by the relatives of a patient alleging negligence of the doctors.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Arti Ahuja has written a letter to Home Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy seeking protection of the physicians and other staffs in hospitals across the state.

“In recent months, it has been observed that doctors are being manhandled by various antisocial elements on the pretext of wrong treatment. This has led to a feeling of insecurity amongst doctors and other staff working in the health institutions throughout the state,” said Ahuja.

“As the incidents of manhandling of doctors are growing, it is requested that police outposts be opened in all tertiary care institutions, district headquarters hospitals and sub-divisional hospitals in the state,” she said.

Ahuja further said that the police personnel might be instructed to ensure the safety and security of doctors and other staffs working in various government health institutions throughout the state.

The Health Secretary asked that any apprehension of misconduct and manhandling should be strictly looked into and prevented.

She said the importance of Medicare Act 10 of 2009 promulgated to curb violence against medicare providers in government might also be emphasized and police stations be requested to include its provisions in the FIR.

“FIRs must be lodged in all such cases by including the most stringent sections of law and proper follow-up must be done by the investigating agency to ensure that the cases against assaulters reach their logical end,” said Ahuja.