Odisha Government Takes Major Step to Protect Healthcare Professionals
In a significant move to bolster the safety of doctors and healthcare workers across the state, the Odisha government has decided to appoint senior police officers as dedicated security personnel in medical colleges and hospitals. This decision comes as part of a comprehensive security plan aimed at addressing growing concerns about violence against medical professionals.
Senior Police Officers to Guard Medical Institutions
The state-level task force meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, approved the appointment of officers in the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) or Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) as security officers. These appointments will cover all 14 government medical colleges, the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar, and Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer in Cuttack.
"Security officers in the rank of ASP, DSP or deputy commandant will be posted at all major medical institutions across the state," stated the official minutes from the meeting. The positions will be created with approval from the finance department and filled through regular appointments, though retired officers of equivalent rank may be temporarily engaged until permanent appointments are finalized.
Comprehensive Security Training and Infrastructure
Beyond the appointment of senior police officers, the government has initiated multiple measures to strengthen hospital security:
- The commissionerate police have been tasked with developing specialized training modules for private security personnel currently deployed in government hospitals
- District headquarters hospitals will receive security officers in the rank of inspector
- Police outposts will be established in all medical colleges, with college authorities directed to allocate dedicated rooms for their functioning
- For new medical institutions, provisions for police outposts will be incorporated directly into the master plans
"At present, hospital security is managed by outsourced private personnel who require proper training and orientation," noted the government order. "The commissioner of police, Bhubaneswar, has volunteered to train and orient the security staff at Capital Hospital and may be requested to prepare a training module that can be replicated across districts."
Background and Healthcare Community Response
The security initiative follows repeated attacks on doctors nationwide, including the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor in West Bengal that sparked widespread outrage. In September 2024, the Odisha government introduced a specific policy to protect healthcare professionals, and the current measures represent a significant implementation of that policy.
Dr. Jayant Kumar Panda, executive body member of the Odisha Medical Teachers' Association, expressed strong support for the government's actions. "We welcome the government's security plan for healthcare institutions. Its swift implementation will ensure greater safety and support for doctors, healthcare workers as well as patients," Dr. Panda stated.
Additional Security and Protocol Measures
The government has outlined several additional security enhancements:
- An online training program for medical officials on filing institutional FIRs will be conducted under arrangements of the ADG (law & order), with completion targeted by April 30
- A committee headed by the ADG (law & order), with IG (fire services) and special secretary of the health and family welfare department as members, has been constituted to develop protocols for ambulance requisition and specialist deployment during VIP visits
- The committee will submit its report within one month
- Fifteen additional ambulances will be procured exclusively for VIP duties, supplementing the existing fleet
These comprehensive measures represent one of the most significant state-level initiatives to protect healthcare professionals in recent years, addressing both immediate security concerns and long-term institutional safety protocols. The government's multi-pronged approach combines senior police oversight, specialized training, infrastructure improvements, and procedural enhancements to create a safer environment for medical professionals across Odisha.
