News Mania Desk/ Piyal Chatterjee / 20th September 2024
The West Bengal administration on Thursday released new guidelines for the safety and security of the state’s medical professionals following a meeting with the doctors who were protesting in Kolkata. Guidelines have been released with an emphasis on the security, safety, and effective operation of the healthcare system.As directed, it is important to make sure that various healthcare institutions have enough on-duty rooms, restrooms, CCTVs, and drinking water facilities as soon as possible.
According to officials, all medical colleges, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities should be advised to guarantee that these steps are implemented after consulting with all relevant parties.
Surajit Kar Purkayastha, the Chairman of the Satyendranath Tagore Civil Services Study Centre (SNTCSSC) and a former West Bengal DGP, has been nominated by the Mamata Banerjee government to conduct a security audit of all medical colleges and hospitals.The department should completely operationalize all panels, including the internal complaints committee. Along with having female police officers and security guards on duty, it should also be made sure that, in coordination with the Home Department, a sufficient number of police and security officers are stationed at each healthcare facility.
In accordance with the orders, it should also be made sure that mobile teams are sent out by the local police authority for surveillance, particularly at night.
A centralized helpline has also been established, and access control systems and a panic call button alarm system will be installed as soon as feasible in every healthcare facility.
As mandated by the government, all government facilities should also implement a centrally controlled real-time bed availability information system. Also, every healthcare facility should have a prominent digital display of bed availability information for the public’s benefit. The government indicated that in addition to operationalizing a centralized referral system, prompt action will be made to fill open positions for physicians, nurses, GDAS technicians, and other professionals.
People and medical professionals can still experience problems with the proper application of the instructions, in which case they would need to file complaints.
To that aim, a strong grievance redressal system will also be created to swiftly handle the complaints and grievances of all parties involved, including patients and attendants. According to the government, all instructions must be followed immediately, and any updates on their execution must be reported to a task force at the state level.
Junior doctors presented the West Bengal government, led by Mamata Banerjee, with a number of demands, and the directives were issued in response.The extensive list of demands, which were addressed to Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant with the goal of enhancing working conditions and healthcare personnel’ safety, includes both infrastructure requirements and administrative reforms.
