The Tamil Nadu government has issued 11 guidelines aimed at ensuring the safety and security of doctors and nurses working in primary healthcare centers.This move comes after an incident at the Kalaignar Government Hospital in Guindy, where Dr. Balaji was attacked by a youth named Vignesh, who has since been arrested by the police. Following the incident, doctors’ associations urged the state government to take concrete measures to ensure the safety of medical professionals. Chief Minister Stalin had assured that necessary steps would be taken to guarantee their protection.
To address the safety and welfare of doctors and medical staff working in government primary healthcare centers, Dr. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health, has issued the following directives:
Key Guidelines:
Display of Punitive Measures: Clear signs displaying the penalties under the ‘Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss of Property Act’ should be placed prominently in all primary healthcare center premises. These signs should be in both Tamil and English, emphasizing that such offenses are non-bailable.
Under this law, any act of violence against healthcare workers or damage to property within primary healthcare centers is considered a serious offense, punishable by three to ten years of imprisonment and a fine.
Formation of Security Committees: Immediate establishment of medical safety and anti-violence committees in primary healthcare centers is mandated to strengthen and implement safety measures.
The medical safety committee can be led by the district medical officer, while senior doctors can head the anti-violence committee. Including members from patient welfare associations in these committees should also be considered.
These measures are designed to protect healthcare professionals and reinforce safety protocols across Tamil Nadu’s primary healthcare facilities.