Not much security in hospitals yet, despite govt promises in court: MARD

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has alleged that despite repeated requests and assurances from the government before the Bombay high court last year, there is still no adequate security for doctors at civic run hospitals in the state. The medicos have sought round-the-clock protection by male-female security guards in each ward and crowded sections of hospitals including the Out-Patient Department (OPD).

After Saturday’s incident at JJ hospital, the authorities realised that the emergency alarm system, proposed two years ago and meant to alert security personnel, has not been installed. Resident doctors at the hospital have taken to mass bunking of work demanding implementation of the promises made regarding deployment of an adequate security system. There are around 89 security guards belonging to the Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) and 79 from the JJ Suraksha Dal, which makes it a total of 168 personnel, which is not enough to deal with emergencies at the hospital, MARD said.

MARD has also alleged that security at JJ Hospital has been cut by half since their appointment and promises to install an alarm system to alert the security personnel is yet underway, which is an increasing risk of similar assaults. “We want at least one or two security persons for every ward and the alarm system should be installed immediately,” Dr Sarang Donarkar, president, MARD, said. He added, “The MARD has demanded immediate installation of alarm system and security guards at every ward to ensure such an incident does not take place again.”

Dr Donarkar also said, “ We need everything in writing as we have had enough of verbal assurances. It’s been over two years and the security alarm issue is still pending. There are over 45 wards, and we need around 150 security guards.”