Kerala Police and IMA Forge Strategic Alliance to Combat Hospital Attacks
In response to a disturbing surge in attacks on hospitals across Kerala, the state police chief has convened a crucial high-level meeting with office-bearers of the Indian Medical Association (IMA). This initiative aims to significantly strengthen coordination between law enforcement agencies and the healthcare sector, with a primary focus on ensuring enhanced security at all medical institutions throughout the state.
High-Level Meeting Addresses Escalating Violence
The meeting, which was chaired by State Police Chief Anil Kant, was organized following a formal request from the IMA's state unit. During the session, Kant presented comprehensive statistics detailing the number of hospital attacks reported in recent years. He also conducted a thorough review of the progress made in legal actions pertaining to these cases, highlighting both successes and areas requiring improvement.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Venkatesh provided the gathering with a detailed briefing on the current status of ongoing investigations into hospital assaults. Meanwhile, ADGP P Vijayan outlined the specific nature of these attacks and elaborated on the various challenges faced by police personnel in effectively handling such incidents.
IMA Leaders Highlight Sector Impact and Propose Solutions
Leaders from the Indian Medical Association emphasized the severe impact that violence has on the healthcare sector, detailing how it affects medical staff morale and patient care. They presented a detailed set of recommendations to the meeting, advocating for robust measures to protect healthcare workers and facilities.
Key Decisions and Action Plan Formulated
Following extensive deliberations, the meeting resulted in several critical decisions designed to curb hospital violence:
- Prompt FIR Registration: Ensure the immediate registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) in all hospital attack cases, invoking provisions of the Hospital Protection Act, 2023, alongside relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
- Enhanced Monitoring: District police chiefs or senior officers nominated by them will directly monitor such cases to guarantee timely action, including the swift identification and arrest of accused persons.
- Security Deployment: Deploy adequate security personnel in vulnerable areas of government hospitals, with plans to extend this to private facilities as needed.
- Improved Coordination: Strengthen coordination mechanisms with district-level IMA representatives to facilitate faster response and information sharing.
- Proactive Measures: Hospital authorities are instructed to identify high-risk periods and locations, alerting police in advance to prevent potential incidents.
- Communication Protocols: Doctors and medical staff will be advised to communicate treatment details clearly to patients and their relatives, aiming to minimize misunderstandings that can escalate into violence.
This collaborative effort between Kerala Police and the IMA marks a significant step toward creating a safer environment for healthcare professionals and patients alike, addressing a pressing issue that threatens the integrity of medical services in the state.
