SAS Nagar, September 10, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
Taking preventive measures as per the directions of the Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh working on the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court of India to safeguard the interests of healthcare professionals and paramedic staff during duty hours, the district administration in Mohali has taken the lead in the formation of a District Health Board led by the Deputy Commissioner as Chairperson while SSP, Civil Surgeon, Principal/ Medical Superintendent, Nursing Sister as representative of paramedic staff, District President of IMA and District Attorney.
Briefing the media after conducting the maiden meeting of the District Health Board along with SSP Deepak Pareek, the Deputy Commissioner Mrs Aashika Jain said that a security audit has been ordered at the District Hospital, Sub Division Hospital, Community Health Centres and Primary Health Centres that work as 24×7 health facility.
The safety audit will be done by the Hospital Security and Violence Prevention Committee headed by a Senior Medical Officer, being formed at the local level, added the Deputy Commissioner Mrs Jain. Sub Divisional Magistrates have been asked to visit all these health facilities personally to complete the security audit by the next 10 days.
Similarly, all the CCTVs already installed at these health facilities would be ensured to be functional and the dark corners would be taken care of well by arranging additional lights.
Apart from that it has been decided that a single pass would be issued to the attendants of the IPD patients in theIn health facilities with heavy footfall, only one person would be allowed to enter the IPD area and the remaining attendants can wait outside the IPD area as preventive measures.
Abiding by the instructions of The Punjab Protection of Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2008, a Display Board both in English and Punjabi language of the Act to be installed in all health facilities displaying the Contact numbers of the nearest Police Stations, she directed the Civil Surgeon.
She further said that provision for the safe movement of doctors/nurses within different areas of the hospital during night duties would be made besides routine Security patrolling in all the hospitals with heavy footfall during night time. In case of emergency, Health care staff should contact or Dial 112′ helpline.
Photo ID cards are to be issued to all the staff members of the Hospitals to rule out the movement of any suspicious persons. Each staff should mandatorily wear an ID card during working hours. The District Health Board will meet monthly, said DC Jain.
SSP Deepak Pareek said that the district police had already checked on the private health facilities in the previous days and issued the necessary guidelines for the safety of Doctors and other paramedic staff. He said that besides the day patrolling, special night patrolling would be done on 10 identified most important spots.
He appealed to the Doctors to dial 112 in case of any emergency when they felt in danger. SSP urged all the SMOs to keep monitoring the functioning of CCTVs once in a while daily.
The Deputy Commissioner further said that a 5 member Internal committee on sexual harassment in hospitals and other organisations where female staff is employed, has been ordered to form to safeguard the interests of female staff.
ADC (D) Sonam Chaudhary, Civil Surgeon Dr Renu Singh, Principal Medical College (AIMS Mohali) Dr Bhavneet Bharti, Medical Superintendent Dr Navdeep and District Immunisation Officer Dr Girish Dogra and SDMs and SMOs were also present in the meeting.
