No end to violence at Pb hospitals amid inaction
With no guards in sight, medical professionals say they are left to fend for themselves in emergency wards.
The latest, in a series of such alarming episodes, occurred at the sub-divisional hospital (SDH) in Sultanpur Lodhi, Kapurthala, on Friday night when medical staff were forced to flee and lock themselves inside a room to escape a violent mob. The hospital lacked basic security arrangements. The staff feared that it could have been worse if they had not hidden themselves.
This disturbing event is not isolated. On July 4, a healthcare worker was grievously injured after being attacked by a patient at SDH, Talwandi Sabo. On July 13, similar incidents of violence were reported at SDH, Zira, and the civil hospital in Kapurthala.
On June 30, a patient opened fire inside the emergency ward at the community health centre (CHC) in Kartarpur, sending staff and patients into panic. On May 26, the senior medical officer (SMO) at the civil hospital in Malout was threatened.
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These back-to-back incidents underline the growing threat to safety within Punjab's public health institutions and highlight the pressing demand for effective, on-ground security infrastructure.
Despite repeated appeals by PCMSA and even a statewide doctors' strike last year, the govt's commitment to deploy round-the-clock security at hospitals dealing with medicolegal cases by Sep 9, 2024, remains unfulfilled.
While the state health department recently initiated groundwork to implement the Punjab Protection of Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2008, enforcement is yet to begin.
Proposals to install CCTV cameras and deploy trained guards remain on paper.
PCMSA had proposed a cost-effective model, recommending outsourced guards paid at deputy commissioner wage rates – about Rs 13,500 per month.
It suggested deploying 20 guards at district hospitals, six at sub-divisional hospitals, and four at community health centres providing round-the-clock medicolegal services, claiming it would cost just 0.2% of the annual health budget.
At a follow-up meeting held on April 17, PCMSA was apprised that following a meeting between health minister Dr Balbir Singh and finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, it was decided that security personnel would be provided through PESCO.
The health department mooted a proposal for the same, but certain queries were raised by the finance department, including details of the list of such incidents in the last two years, along with the action taken in such cases, delaying the progress.
PCMSA president Dr Akhil Sarin urged the govt to act without delay. "The current spate of violence is deeply concerning. It is extremely difficult to work under fear. The govt must showcase its political will and act decisively to protect health professionals across the state," he said.
Terming the objection as one that is not in sync with the issue at hand, the PCMSA claims it to be a delaying tactic.
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