Thiruvananthapuram : There will be ordinance brought soon to amend the Hospital Security Act that will ensure safety of healthcare workers, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Ordinance shall effected at the next cabinet meeting. Police outposts shall be set up outside major hospitals, said CM.
The decision came about at the high-level meeting convened by CM in Kottarakkara this afternoon, in the wake of Dr. Vandana Das’s brutal death at hands of an erratic outpatient. Changes in keeping with times shall be introduced to definition of health institutions, health workers, nature of punishment etc. Overseen by the Chief Secretary, the Addl. Chief Secretary to the Home Dept, the Principal Secretary to Health Dept and Law Secretary shall hold discussions and submit recommendations to the Cabinet
Discussions shall be made with the Kerala Health University and the varied health workers’ organisations and the govt will consider complaints and suggestions coming out of this. The Chief Minster directed the Health and Home departments for joint measures toward safety of healthcare workers.Security systems shall be upgraded after classifying hospitals into three categories.
Police outposts shall be set up outside Medical Colleges, District Hospitals, Women’s and Children’s hospitals - all of which will fall under first category. SI, ASI and CPOs shall be deputed at such posts. Other hospitals too shall be facilitated with full surveillance. Closed circuit cameras shall become installed at all hospitals and proper monitoring of CCTVs shall be ensured. Effective warning systems shall be installed and hospital environment shall be so effected that, health workers and doctors feel utmost safe going about their duty.
A security audit shall be conducted in all hospitals every six months. It shall be done by Health and Police dept under supervision of the District Collector. It will also be consulted if two doctors can be posted on duty in Casualty section during night in govt hospitals.
The meeting chaired by CM was attended by Health Minister Veena George attended the meeting online. Chief Secretary Dr. V.P. Dr. Joy, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department. V. Venu, State Police Chief Anil Kant, Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. K.M. Abraham, Principal Secretaries A.P.M. Muhammad Haneesh, Tinku Biswal, ADGPs MR. Ajith Kumar, T.K. Vinod Kumar, Law Department Secretary Hari Nair and others.
