GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 30th August. A recent study by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has revealed alarming safety concerns among doctors during night shifts, with one-third of respondents, particularly women, reporting feeling “unsafe” or “very unsafe” while on duty. The study highlighted that some doctors have resorted to carrying weapons like knives or pepper spray for self-defense.
The online survey, conducted in the wake of the alleged rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, received 3,885 responses, making it the largest study of its kind in India. The findings, compiled by Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Chairman of the Research Cell, Kerala State IMA, will be published in the October 2024 issue of the Kerala Medical Journal.
The study found that 45% of respondents did not have access to a duty room during night shifts. Among those who did, many reported that these rooms were inadequate, lacking privacy, proper locks, or attached bathrooms, forcing doctors to find alternative rest areas. The absence of basic amenities contributed to the sense of insecurity, especially among younger doctors, many of whom are interns or postgraduate trainees.
The survey also revealed that duty rooms were often located far from the ward or casualty areas, with inadequate lighting and security measures. This forced some doctors to navigate dark, deserted corridors during late hours, further heightening their sense of vulnerability.
Suggestions to improve safety included increasing the number of trained security personnel, installing CCTV cameras, improving lighting, implementing the Central Protection Act (CPA), and providing secure, well-equipped duty rooms. Doctors also called for airport-like security measures to be enforced in healthcare settings.
One respondent admitted to always carrying a foldable knife and pepper spray due to the unsafe location of her duty room. Another reported repeated incidents of inappropriate contact in crowded emergency rooms, often from intoxicated individuals.
The study underscored the urgent need for policy changes to ensure the safety of doctors, particularly junior doctors who are most vulnerable to violence but have little influence over administrative decisions. The IMA has called for a Central Protection Law to standardize security arrangements across the healthcare sector, benefiting both doctors and patients.
In response to the recent incident in Kolkata, the Supreme Court of India took suo motu cognizance, assuring that the safety concerns of medical professionals are being addressed at the highest level. The IMA expressed hope that the survey’s findings will prompt broad policy changes to enhance the safety and working conditions of doctors across the country.
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