“FIR Within 6 Hours”: Centre’s Directive To Protect Healthcare Workers

New Delhi:

The Union Health Ministry has ordered all government hospitals, centre or state, to file police complaints within six hours of violence on campus or against staff and health workers.

A brief notice issued Friday morning said the head of the instituted concerned would be held responsible if no such complaint is made within the stipulated time.

“Recently it has been observed that violence has become common against doctors and other healthcare staff at government hospitals. A number of healthcare workers suffered physical violence during the course of their duty. Many were threatened or exposed to verbal aggression.”

“Most of this violence is done either by patients or patients’ attenders. In view of this it is stated that in the event of any violence against any healthcare worker while on duty, the Head of the institution shall be responsible for filing an institutional FIR within a maximum of six hours.”

In the event of any violence against any healthcare worker while on duty, the Head of Institution shall be responsible for filing an Institutional FIR within a maximum of 6 hours of the incident: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/2YGDZVRx8O

— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2024

The notice comes amid furious protests nationwide over the rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, following which medical professionals across the country have gone on strike demanding better protection and safer work environments.

Earlier the Calcutta High Court came down strongly on the Bengal government while hearing petitions on this issue, including one by the doctors’ parents alleging lapses by hospital administration.

The state and the police have firmly denied any claim of negligence on their part.

The police have firmly trashed any talk of impropriety on their part, including the parents’ claim they first treated the death as a ‘suicide’ and then later did not allow them to view the body.

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The police have also dismissed talk they failed to secure the crime scene that was believed to be the target of the vandals. The court, though, has demanded photographic proof of this.

The body of the doctor was found in a seminar room on the RG Kar Hospital campus on August 9. An autopsy confirmed multiple heinous injuries, from her arms and legs to her genitals.

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The grisly killing sparked a massive agitation by doctors in that hospital, from across Kolkata and Bengal, and across India. The protests were followed by vandalism at the RG Kar Hospital.

In a hearing this morning the High Court had some tough questions for the police regarding the vandalism, including asking how they could have allowed a mob of 7,000 to gather.

The High Court then directed the CBI to submit an interim report on the vandalism. The court had earlier handed the case over to the CBI, arguing there is “no further time to lose” in ensuring justice.

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