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The top court said the cabinet minister, home secretary, health minister, chairman of the National Medical Council and chairman of the National Examination Board should be ex-officio members of the task force. (PTI file photo)
The 10-member task force was constituted by the Supreme Court last week after it took cognizance of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which triggered widespread controversy, including among medical staff. Protests affect medical services
Sources said the Supreme Court-appointed National Task Force (NTF), which will work out a protocol to ensure the safety of doctors and other healthcare professionals, will hold its first meeting on Tuesday.
The 10-member task force was constituted by the Supreme Court last week after it took cognizance of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which triggered widespread controversy, including among medical staff. Protests have affected medical services.
The top court said the cabinet minister, home secretary, health minister, chairman of the National Medical Council and chairman of the National Examination Board should be ex-officio members of the task force.
The members of the working group include Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Surgeon General, Director General (Naval Medical Services); Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman and Chairman, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and AIG Hospital, Hyderabad. Managing Director; Dr M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS, Delhi; Dr Pratima Murthy, Director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Bangalore; Dr Goverdhan Dutt Puri, Executive Director, AIIMS Jodhpur; Dr Saumitra Rawat, Gastroenterology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi Department of Surgery, GI and HPB Chairman and Governing Board Member of the Institute of Surgical Oncology and Liver Transplantation.
Other members include: Professor Anita Saxena, Vice-Chancellor, BD Sharma Medical University, Rohtak Pandit; Dr Pallavi Saple, Dean, Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai; Dr Padma Srivastava, former Professor, Department of Neurology, AIIMS, Delhi.
The Union Health Ministry issued a memorandum last Wednesday mentioning the terms of reference (ToR) of the NTF.
The ToR empowers the NTF to develop effective recommendations on the safety, working conditions and well-being of medical professionals and other related matters.
The Supreme Court asked the NTF to prepare an action plan under two sub-headings – 1. Prevent violence against medical professionals, including gender-based violence, and provide safe working conditions.
The NTF will consider installing baggage and people screening systems at every entrance to hospitals to ensure weapons are not carried within healthcare facilities and to prevent intoxicated persons from entering hospitals unless they are patients.
In terms of infrastructure construction, the terms of reference stated that each department should provide separate lounges and duty rooms for male and female doctors, male and female nurses; and a gender-neutral common rest space.
The NTF will also explore the possibility of setting up police posts at health facilities based on foot traffic, bed strength and facilities.
(This report has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)
