Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Central Government has issued a directive mandating that an institutional First Information Report (FIR) must be lodged within six hours in cases of violence against health workers on duty. This move comes in response to escalating protests by doctors and medical professionals across India, following the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The directive, issued on Friday, addresses a key demand from the medical community, which has long been frustrated by delays in filing FIRs after incidents of assault. These delays have often resulted in further delays in legal action and justice for the affected health care workers.
“Recent observations have shown an alarming increase in violence against doctors and other health care staff in government hospitals,” stated the order from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. “A significant number of health care workers face physical violence during their duties, while others are subjected to threats or verbal abuse, often from patients or their attendants.”
The order, signed by Dr. Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services (DGHS), was circulated to directors and medical superintendents of all central government hospitals and institutions, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi and other AIIMS across the country, as well as directors and principals of all government medical colleges.
“In the event of any violence against any health care worker while on duty, the head of the institution shall be responsible for filing an institutional FIR within a maximum of six hours of the incident,” the order instructed.
This directive comes amid widespread protests by doctors, both senior and resident, who are calling for the immediate implementation of the Central Protection Act (CPA) to safeguard medical professionals. The protests were ignited by the tragic incident in Kolkata, which has sent shockwaves through the medical community and the nation.
In Delhi, the Resident Doctors’ Association from several medical colleges and hospitals has planned a peaceful protest outside Nirman Bhawan, the building that houses the Union Health Ministry. The doctors are demanding improved safety measures and better working conditions.
“Our primary demand from the government is to ensure the safety of doctors and to improve our working conditions,” said a resident doctor from one of Delhi’s leading government hospitals.
