Violence Against Medicos: Pawan Kotwal inaugurates Panel Discussion

Asks experts to come up with recommendations to check violence in hospitals

JAMMU, MARCH 17: Principal Secretary to Government, Health and Medical Education Department J&K, Dr. Pawan Kotwal today said that government will take initiatives to ensure the security of doctors while delivering their professional duties.

Kotwal said this while inaugurating a Panel discussion on ‘Violence against healthcare professionals in J&K’ which was jointly organized by Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) and Academy of Hospital Administration (AHA) regional chapter Jammu.

Labour Commissioner and Secretary to Government, Information Department, Dr. Abdul Rashid, Secretary IIPA Jammu, Er. JBS Johar, Former Health Secretary and Patron AHA Jammu, Dr. VP Gupta, Registrar Academics GMC Jammu/Executive Director, AHA Jammu, Dr. Yashpal Sharma shared the podium. Besides, members from Directorate of Health services GMC, Jammu ASCOMS, Medical Professionals, Judiciary, Police, Media, and Bureaucracy were present on the occasion.

In his address, Kotwal said that generally, violence against health professionals and health property happens when a person is emotionally high particularly in out-patient departments where patient flow is high and doctors are highly overburdened.

“There is a huge disparity between what is required and what is available which leads to unfortunate incidents of conflicts between medical professionals and people,” he said.

Pertinently, Kotwal said that government is working tirelessly to streamline the apparatus of Medicare facility at all levels in the state and to mitigate the patient flow, besides he stressed for strengthening the peripheries health system and paramedical staff to avoid frequent referrals.

So far the security of doctors is concerned; he said, there should be a specific law to secure the doctors and hospital property and specific act is needed to fill the security lapse, besides there should be a legal deterrence which can stop people from committing such acts.

“Such acts are ultimately hampering the treatment of a patient, and they may get adversely affected,” he said.

Besides, he asked the panelists’ present on the occasion to submit recommendations to the government to help in reduction of violence against the medical professionals in the state.

He further called for an intensive input training for Senior Residents (SRs) and Junior Residents (JRs) to develop receptive and calm approach among them while performing their duties. He added that there is a need to revamp the syllabus to train these SRs and JRs to deal positively in adverse circumstances.  

Moreover, he reiterated that government is committed to ensure the safe and hassle-free environment for both medical professionals and medical treatment for patients.