File FIR within six hours of incident of violence against health workers: Health Ministry amid furore over rape and murder of doctor in Kolkata

Doctors and medical students protest against the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, at the Civil Hospital in Solapur on August 16, 2024. | Image credit: PTI

Amid widespread protests against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, India's Health Ministry on Friday (August 16, 2024) said facility heads will be responsible for filing an FIR of the facility within six hours of an incident of violence against an on-duty healthcare worker.

The Office Memorandum (OM) of Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Atul Goel was issued to the Directors and Medical Superintendents of Central Government Hospitals, including AIIMS, and to the Principals of all Medical Colleges across the country.

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“It is explained that in the event of violence against a health care worker during the performance of his or her duties, the head of the facility is responsible for filing a report with the facility within a maximum of six hours of the incident,” the memo states.

“Recently, violence against doctors and other health personnel has been observed to be widespread in government hospitals,” the memo said.

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According to OM, numerous health workers are subjected to physical violence while carrying out their duties and many are threatened or subjected to verbal attacks. Most of these acts of violence are perpetrated either by patients or their caregivers, it added.