New Delhi, Aug 18 (PTI) – Over 70 Padma award-winning doctors have expressed their dismay over the rape and murder cases in Kolkata and in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanded the speedy passage of a special law to combat violence against medical personnel and implementation of enhanced safety protocols in medical facilities.
They suggested that the Centre immediately issue an ordinance to ensure the “harshest possible punishment” against those guilty of verbal or physical violence against health workers.
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The alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, along with allegations of a botched investigation and cover-up, have sparked widespread protests by medical personnel and others. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and other medical associations are pushing for a central law to ensure the safety of medical professionals.
The authors of the letter include former Director General of ICMR Dr Balram Bhargav, former Director of AIIMS Delhi Dr Randeep Guleria and Dr SK Sarin, Director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences.
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In the letter, the Padma awardees requested immediate and personal intervention from Prime Minister Modi to address the alarming situation. They said such acts of brutality shake the foundations of the work of healthcare professionals and underscored the urgent need to combat violence, especially against women, girls and healthcare professionals.
The doctors expressed their “deep concern and profound anguish” over the horrific events at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata.
“We stand in unwavering solidarity with the victim’s family, whose pain and loss are unimaginable. We also extend our full support to the medical community, which is increasingly confronted with such violence in the course of its work. The safety and dignity of medical personnel must be protected with the highest priority,” the letter said.
The doctors said stronger measures were urgently needed to prevent such atrocities.
“We call on law enforcement, policymakers and society at large to act immediately and decisively,” the letter said.
The doctors stressed that law enforcement authorities must more strictly enforce existing legislation to protect medical personnel and called for strict and swift punishments to deter such crimes.
The letter calls on the government to implement enhanced safety protocols in health facilities to ensure a safe working environment for all medical personnel.
“We urge the central and state governments to expeditiously enact and implement a separate law to protect health workers and ensure its prompt enforcement on the ground,” the letter said.
“A draft bill entitled ‘The Prevention of Violence Against Doctors, Medical Professionals and Medical Institutions Bill’ has been pending since 2019 but has not yet been presented to Parliament for passage and approval.
“We firmly believe that an appropriate regulation can be issued immediately and that the law should be passed as soon as possible so that all those working in the country’s health system can work without fear in the service of suffering patients,” the letter said.
The doctors also stressed that the proposed regulation or bill should ensure that those guilty of verbal or physical violence against healthcare workers face the harshest possible punishment.
Such cases should be resolved quickly by the justice system, with the crimes being classified as non-bailable.
“Let this tragedy serve as a catalyst for real, lasting change. With this letter, we urge you to protect the medical profession from physical attacks and violations of the dignity and respect of all health care workers,” the letter says.
The honored doctors include Radiologist and Founder & Managing Director of Mahajan Imaging Dr. Harsh Mahajan, Dr. Nikhil Tandon, Head, Department of Endocrinology, AIIMS, Delhi, Dr. DS Rana, Chairman, Department of Nephrology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Dr. Dr. Sandeep Guleria, Transplant Specialist.
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