Centre Orders Hospitals to File FIR Within 6 Hours of Violence Against Healthcare Workers

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 16th August. The Union Health Ministry has issued a directive to all government hospitals, both central and state, mandating the filing of police complaints within six hours of any act of violence against healthcare workers on campus. The announcement comes amid rising concerns over the safety of doctors and healthcare staff in government hospitals, following a string of violent incidents.

In a notice issued on Friday, the Ministry stated that the head of the institution would be held accountable if no First Information Report (FIR) is filed within the stipulated timeframe. The notice highlights the increasing frequency of violence against healthcare workers, stating, “Recently it has been observed that violence has become common against doctors and other healthcare staff at government hospitals. Many healthcare workers have suffered physical violence, threats, or verbal abuse during the course of their duties.”

The Ministry specifically noted that most of the violence stems from either patients or their attendants and emphasized that swift legal action is critical to addressing the issue. “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 healthcare staff,” the notice stressed.

This directive follows nationwide protests sparked by the brutal rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. The 26-year-old doctor’s body was found with multiple injuries, leading to mass agitations by healthcare professionals across India, demanding safer working conditions and stronger legal protections.

The Calcutta High Court has also been actively involved, hearing petitions regarding the incident. The court criticized the Bengal government and police for alleged lapses in handling the case, particularly after claims surfaced from the victim’s family that the death was initially treated as a suicide, and that they were denied access to the body. The High Court questioned how the police allowed a mob of 7,000 to vandalize the hospital following the protests, and has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit an interim report on the case.

As doctors across the nation continue their strike, the Health Ministry’s new order seeks to ensure immediate legal action and heightened accountability in cases of violence at hospitals, hoping to address concerns over the safety of healthcare workers.