Chandigarh, Sept 10, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
Reaffirming the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s zero-tolerance policy towards violence against healthcare professionals, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Tuesday, categorically said that any kind of violence against healthcare professionals will not be tolerated at any cost and stringent action will be initiated against the culprits.
Taking a strong note of the rising cases of violence against medical professionals, the Health Minister was chairing a high-level meeting with Deputy Commissioners, CPs/SSPs and Civil Surgeons of all districts via video conferencing to review security arrangements at the Government Healthcare Facilities.
The meeting was attended by Administrative Secretary Health Kumar Rahul, Secretary Health cum MD NHM Dr Abhinav Trikha, MD PHSC Varinder Kumar Sharma and Director Health and Family Welfare Dr Hitinder Kaur.
To ensure workplace security, Dr Balbir Singh directed the constitution of District Health Boards under the chairpersonship of Deputy Commissioners, comprising members including SSP, Civil Surgeon, Principal/Medical Superintendent of Medical College, District PCMS President/District IMA President Representatives, Representative of Paramedical Staff/NGOs and Legal Experts. The boards should meet monthly to review security arrangements, he added.
Calling for the strict implementation of ‘Punjab Protection of Medicare Service persons and Medicare service institutions (Prevention of Violence and damage to Property) Act, 2008’, he asked the officials to prominently install display boards at all the healthcare facilities— in both English and Punjabi language— displaying provisions, penalties and punishment under this Act and also contact numbers of police stations.
The Health Minister also stressed on the need to attach all the health institutions with heavy footfall with the nearest Police Chowki/Station.
He directed Civil Surgeons to ensure appropriate security arrangements, including deployment of homeguards, installation of CCTV cameras and proper lighting, at all the healthcare facilities. To streamline patient entry, only one attendant should be allowed to enter the In-Patient Department (IPD) area, he suggested.
He also directed them to constitute five-member Internal Committee on Sexual Harassment headed by Facility Incharge and comprising three female members.
Dr Balbir Singh also made a heartfelt appeal to healthcare staff to exercise empathy and courtesy towards patients and their attendants, recognising that they often arrive at hospitals already stressed and anxious.
He also stated that if patients have any problem with respect to treatment provided by doctors/healthcare professionals, they can approach the District Grievances Redressal Committee, which will suitably look into the matter for necessary action.
Meanwhile, in light abrupt spurt in dengue cases amid incessant rains, the Health Minister also took stock of measures in place for prevention and control of vector-borne diseases in the state.
He instructed Civil Surgeons to conduct door-to-door surveys in hotspot areas. He urged people to not let water stagnation at or around their homes to prevent breeding of dengue mosquitoes.
