Cases of assault on doctors and health staff in 24-hour government hospitals in Punjab will now be curbed. The government has decided to deploy 200 security guards in 23 district hospitals as part of a pilot project. This deployment will be carried out under the Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation (PESCO).
The entire process will be completed by the end of this month. If the project is successful, it will be implemented in other hospitals as well. Doctors have breathed a sigh of relief with this decision. They say it will greatly benefit the public. This staff will be deployed in the emergency department.
Assault on doctors every 10 days
Cases of assault on doctors in emergency departments in Punjab’s government hospitals are steadily increasing. In the last two years, approximately 80 cases of assault on doctors have been reported, with one case occurring every 10 days. According to doctors, this situation has spread not only to border districts but also to the VIP district of Mohali.
At times, this prevents doctors from performing their duties properly. They fear for their safety.
Defects Found in Security Audit
Last September, when doctors were assaulted in Derabassi, Mohali, and Jalandhar, the doctors stopped work. The issue of doctors’ safety was also raised prominently. Following this, it was decided that security audits of medical institutions would be conducted by the Health Security Boards formed in all districts.
Decision to Deploy Guards After Approval from the Finance Department
Also, orders were issued to identify areas in all hospitals. Following this, dark spots were covered in all hospitals. Cameras were installed in the emergency rooms of most hospitals, but guards had not yet been deployed due to a lack of funds. Approval was obtained from the Finance Department, after which the decision to deploy them was made.