Health Secy for zero tolerance against violence in health institutions

Bhubaneswar, Sept 23:In view of the increasing untoward situations on the premises of health Institutions like manhandling of doctors and staff, Health Secretary Shalini Pandit on Friday wrote to the district Collectors and SPs to adopt zero tolerance against violence in the health institutions. "Violence, harassment and even physical assault to doctors and health officials on duty are being reported from different parts of the State. The government has "zero tolerance" towards violence against doctors. Hence, it is required to take exemplary action against the miscreants," said Pandit. She directed that CCTV cameras are to be installed at vital locations of the hospitals for monitoring of the activities in the hospital. Visitors pass is to be introduced for the indoor patients. Two entry passes are to be issued per patient for attending the patient during the official visiting hour and the attendants entering the ward should be frisked out by the internal security guards, she said. All the regular and contractual employees of the hospital should be provided with an ID card. The entry of the general public and vehicles is to be regulated strictly to stop the thoroughfare. Signage highlighting the Odisha Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage of Property) Act, 2008 should be placed in front of the health institutions. The internal security should patrol the campus and take steps for removal of unauthorized vehicles and vendors. Two security hubs may be deployed to the crowded Departments of the DHH. The telephone number of the two hubs may be made available through the display of signage. At the same time, the CDMOs, Deputy directors of the Health Departments have also been asked to  ensure the measures in this connection.