Violence Against Medical Staff in Delhi Hospitals Shows Alarming Rise
New Delhi witnessed a disturbing increase in violence against doctors and hospital staff over the past five years. Official data reveals a sharp upward trend in reported assaults within government hospitals across the capital.
Official Data Reveals Escalating Numbers
Delhi government records show 149 incidents of assault against medical professionals between 2021 and 2025. The numbers began at 14 cases each in 2021 and 2022. They then climbed to 24 incidents in 2023 before spiking dramatically to 49 cases in 2024. The year 2025 recorded 48 assaults, indicating the problem persisted without showing signs of decline.
A senior official confirmed this clear escalation pattern. "The increase became particularly noticeable after 2022," the official stated. He attributed the rise to growing strain on public hospitals facing multiple challenges.
Systemic Pressures Fuel Aggression
Overcrowding, staff shortages, and rising patient inflow created tense hospital environments. Emergency wards became flashpoints where frustration frequently boiled over into physical aggression. Patients' attendants often directed their anger toward medical staff working under difficult conditions.
"Tensions run especially high in emergency sections," the official explained. "Long waits and perceived delays in treatment sometimes trigger violent outbursts."
Limited Legal Action Raises Concerns
Despite the high number of reported assaults, institutional FIRs remained surprisingly low. Only 33 formal police complaints were registered for the 149 incidents. This means less than a quarter of reported assaults resulted in official legal action.
A Delhi government doctor, speaking anonymously, explained this discrepancy. "Many incidents get settled internally or go unreported completely," the doctor said. Medical staff often fear reprisals, face administrative pressure, or doubt that legal processes will deliver swift justice.
Safety Measures Show Limited Effectiveness
The Delhi government implemented several security initiatives in response to the violence. These included forming hospital-level security committees, deploying additional security guards, and installing CCTV cameras. Authorities also issued helpline numbers for violent situations and coordinated with Delhi Police through regular security audits.
Hospital premises displayed information about legal provisions against violence. However, the continued rise in assault cases suggests these measures may not provide adequate on-ground protection for medical staff.
Recent Incidents Highlight Ongoing Problem
Several 2025 cases illustrate the persistent nature of hospital violence. In August, a doctor and X-ray technician faced alleged assault by patient attendants at Lady Hardinge Medical College's Sucheta Kriplani Hospital. That same month, an intern at Acharya Bhikshu Hospital reported assault by a politician in the emergency section.
June brought more troubling incidents. Police registered an FIR against five women, including a patient, for allegedly assaulting a resident doctor at Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital. Also in June, a senior doctor at GTB Hospital suffered an attack late at night during routine rounds, allegedly struck with a liquor bottle after an altercation.
Government Relies on Existing Laws
The Delhi government stated it would not create separate legislation to address violence against doctors. Instead, authorities plan to rely on existing legal provisions. This stance has drawn repeated criticism from doctors' associations demanding stronger safeguards for medical professionals.
The data clearly indicates that violence against healthcare workers represents a growing crisis in Delhi's government hospitals. While security measures have been implemented, their effectiveness remains questionable given the steady increase in reported assaults over recent years.
