File action report in 48 hours of violence at campuses: NMC to medical colleges

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has asked all medical colleges in the country to send a detailed action taken report of any incidence of violence that takes place within the college and campus within 48 hours of the incident. The Commission also asked the college managements to develop a policy for a safe work environment within the college and hospital campus for all the staff members, including faculty, medical students, and resident doctors. The directive comes in the backdrop of increasing protest against the failure in nabbing the culprits behind the rape and murder case of a female trainee doctor at a Kolkata medical college.

The NMC advisory, issued on August 13 says that the policy should ensure adequate safety measures at outpatient department (OPD), wards, casualty, hostels, and other open areas in the campus and in residential quarters. It also wants the college management to ensure that the corridors and other open spaces are well-lit in the evening for staff to walk safely from one place to another, and that all sensitive areas be covered by CCTV for monitoring.

The NMC also wants adequate security measures, including posting adequate security staff across the medical college and campus.

It states that any incident of violence against medical students should be promptly investigated by the college management, and an FIR should be lodged with the police.

The NMC letter has gone to all secretaries of departments of medical education in States and Union Territories.

In a separate communication, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has asked the State government for an impartial and thorough investigation of the case and punishment of the culprits. The IMA had also written to Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda, demanding a detailed inquiry into the conditions enabling the crime, as well as steps to improve workplace safety of medical professionals.

Meanwhile, the Kolkata incident, which happened on August 9, has triggered massive protests by junior doctors across hospitals. The Calcutta High Court has ordered a CBI inquiry into the matter and directed the police to submit all documents related to the doctor’s rape and murder case to the Central agency by August 14 morning.