Local hospitals in Dombivli, Maharashtra are also under attack and hospitals in India have been targeted and a protest was announced on July 20 by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). Medical professionals are calling for more protection for doctors and for stronger action to be taken against those who assault doctors.
According to reports, the assault came as relatives of a patient and hospital staff were inching closer to the hospital after the family squabbles. Doctors and healthcare workers said they were verbally and physically attacked while working. The attack served as another reminder that violence against medical professionals in India is on the rise.
The IMA has strongly condemned the attack and called for both governments to protect doctors and hospital staff. Healthcare workers are under extreme pressure and should not have to worry about their safety as their profession is the safest in this society (the association said).
As part of the protest on July 20, IMA branches across the country will hold demonstrations and write memorandums to district authorities and hold awareness campaigns calling for improved security at hospitals. Emergency medical services are expected to continue and routine outpatient services may be affected in a number of hospitals if local people take part.
Medical associations have repeatedly raised concerns about growing incidents of violence against doctors. Many healthcare professionals believe that overcrowded hospitals, delayed treatment due to lack of resources, unrealistic expectations from patients’ families and poor security arrangements tend to drive such confrontations.
The IMA has again pressed the government to introduce tougher laws that will deter violence against healthcare workers. Doctors want better security infrastructure on healthcare campuses surveillance systems, trained security staff, police in-the-moment response when there are incidents.
The protest has received support from medical organizations and doctors unions, with the emphasis on the importance of the safety of healthcare workers and the patients’ health care.
And repeated attacks would not only take the health professionals to hospital security but would also damage the health care system and make it harder to treat the many patients who rely on medical services, they say.
राज्यातील डॉक्टरांचा सोमवारी बंद, डोंबिवलीच्या रुग्णालयातील हल्ल्याचा निषेध; 24 तास ओपीडी सेवाही ठप्प होणार
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Health professionals have said violence against doctors is becoming a common problem across India, with a number of cases in recent years. And they feel public awareness, better hospital security, closer communication between doctors and patients’ families and swift legal action against the culprits must be taken to address this issue.
The authorities will investigate the Dombivli incident deeply, the IMA has appealed for swift justice and accountability.
Violence in hospitals cannot be tolerated and healthcare workers are critical for an effective healthcare system, the association said.
The protest is expected to attract thousands of doctors and healthcare professionals across India and send a signal to medical personnel that the job is safe to work in the area and be safe to practice in, in the hospital so that they can be able to work safely and in the safest way with patients.
