Panic call button, centralised helpline number, grievance redressal system — are some of the directives issued by the West Bengal government on Thursday for the safety, security and efficient functioning of healthcare professionals.
The directive also mentions that the state has appointed former DGP Surajit Kar Purkayastha to conduct security audits of all medical colleges and hospitals.
According to the directive all the directions must be implemented immediately and the progress regarding the implementation of the directions must be informed to the State Level Task Force.
State chief secretary Manoj Pant in a letter to health secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam stated, “Adequate availability of on-duty rooms, washrooms, CCTVs, drinking water facilities should be ensured in the healthcare facilities. Works in this connection must be completed as early as possible. All medical colleges and hospitals and other health care institutions must be advised to ensure implementation of these measures in consultation with all stakeholders.”
The directives came a day after the West Bengal government held a meeting with agitating junior doctors at Nabanna, the state secretariat, over the same issues.
One of the immediate steps, according to the directive, seeks to fill up vacant posts of doctors, nurses and other health care workers.
“It should be ensured that an adequate number of police/security personnel along with female police/security personnel are deployed in every healthcare facility in consultation with the Home Department. It should also be ensured that mobile teams are deployed by local police authorities for surveillance especially during night hours,” the letter further said.
The letter highlighted that, “A panic call button alarm system along with access control systems should be made operational in every healthcare facility as early as possible and it should be ensured that a centralized helpline number is implemented for the safety of healthcare personnel.”
One of the directives also mentioned that a Centrally Monitored Real Time Bed Availability Information System must be operationalized in all the Government facilities and the facility should be displayed for all. “A robust grievance
redressal system should be developed to promptly address the grievances and complaints of all the stakeholders including patient and patient parties,” it stated.
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