Bhubaneswar, April 18: In a bid to bolster the safety of healthcare professionals and ensure the security of medical institutions, the Odisha government has unveiled an extensive security enhancement plan. The new initiative focuses on strengthening the security infrastructure across the state's medical facilities, including government medical colleges and district headquarters hospitals.

As part of this initiative, all 14 government medical colleges will now be assigned senior security officers, including positions such as Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), and Deputy Commandant. These officers will be responsible for overseeing security on campus, ensuring order, and responding swiftly to emergencies.

In addition to medical colleges, district headquarters hospitals will also receive enhanced security measures. Officers with the rank of Inspector will be deployed at these locations to maintain law and order and provide an immediate response in case of any untoward incidents.

A key element of the security upgrade includes the establishment of dedicated police outposts at each medical college. These outposts are expected to drastically improve response times during emergencies and serve as a deterrent against potential acts of violence or disturbances targeting doctors, hospital staff, or patients.

The move comes in response to increasing concerns over the safety of healthcare workers, fueled by a surge in incidents of violence within hospitals across the nation. The Odisha government’s decision aims to provide medical professionals with a safer work environment, while also enhancing the overall security management within these institutions.

In light of recent troubling events, such as an assault on a doctor at a Community Health Centre (CHC) in Singhpur, where a patient's attendant allegedly physically attacked the doctor over treatment delays, the government’s decision has been welcomed. The attack led to a police report being filed by the Medical Officer in Charge, who was later embroiled in a murder case after the patient's attendant was found dead under mysterious circumstances.

This proactive measure is expected to not only improve security at medical facilities but also reassure healthcare workers and the public. Further details regarding the deployment and operationalization of these security measures will be disclosed in the near future.