Amid Doctors' Strike, Centre Announces Setting Up Of Committee To Ensure Safety Of Healthcare Workers

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Saturday (17 August) announced the formation of a committee to recommend measures to enhance the safety of healthcare workers.

This announcement by the Health Ministry comes amid a 24-hour nationwide protest by doctors, who are demanding justice for the rape and murder of a colleague at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

The ministry said representatives of all stakeholders including the state governments will be invited to share their suggestions with the committee.

It also urged the agitating doctors to resume their duties in the larger public interest and in view of the rising cases of Dengue and Malaria.

Representatives of the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA), Indian Medical Association (IMA) and resident doctors' associations of government medical colleges and hospitals of Delhi met the Union Health Minister J P Nadda in the aftermath of the Kolkata incident.

In a statement, the ministry said that the associations have put forth their demands regarding the safety and security of healthcare workers at the workplace.

The ministry has heard the demands of the representatives and assured them of all possible efforts to ensure the security of healthcare professionals, it said.

The representatives of all the associations were informed that the government is well aware of the situation and is sensitive to their demands, the statement said.

"It was observed that 26 States have already passed legislation for protection of healthcare workers in their respective states," the ministry said in the statement.

"In view of the concerns expressed by the Associations, the Ministry assured them of constituting a Committee to suggest all such possible measures for ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals," the ministry added.

"Representatives of all stakeholders, including the state governments, will be invited to share their suggestions with the committee," the statement said.

Also Read: Lateral Entry Scheme: UPSC Invites Applications For 45 Joint Secretary, Director Level Posts In Various Ministries In Central Government