Bhubaneswar: In a move aimed at ensuring a safe working environment for doctors, students, and medical staff in healthcare and educational institutions, the Health & Family Welfare Department of the Odisha government has issued a set of comprehensive policy guidelines. The guidelines include a security audit for all major health facilities, to be conducted by an inter-departmental team.
Key measures include:
- Perimeter Security: All health institutions must have boundary walls with defined entry and exit gates. Public and vehicle entry will be regulated to prevent unauthorized access.
- ID Cards and Dress Code: All employees must carry ID cards, and dress codes where applicable must be strictly enforced.
- Visitor Management: A visitor pass system will be implemented for indoor patients, limiting entry to two attendants per patient during official visiting hours. Attendants will be frisked by security and must wait in designated areas outside the wards.
- Security Deployment: Male and female security guards will be stationed in OPDs and outside wards 24×7. They will patrol the premises and handle unauthorized vehicles or vendors.
- CCTV and Surveillance: CCTV cameras will be installed at strategic locations, including hospitals and hostel premises, with footage monitored round-the-clock by a control room. Footage must have a three-month storage backup.
- Safety Measures for Women: Secure parking, well-lit streets, and safe transport options for night shifts for women doctors, employees, and students will be provided.
- Public Redressal System: A public grievance system will be developed, with phone numbers prominently displayed for aggrieved attendants to contact the head of the institution.
- Police Outposts: In government medical college hospitals, a police outpost will be set up, with at least one female police officer on duty at all times.
- Emergency Response Plan: Each institution must develop an emergency response plan, including panic buttons, emergency phones, and apps to quickly address any threat. A dedicated phone line will be set up in the main security control room for emergency reporting.
- Workplace Culture: Institutions will foster a respectful workplace environment with zero tolerance for harassment or bullying. Counselling and support services will be available for medical staff and students.
- Incident Reporting and Action: Any incidents of violence against medical students will be promptly investigated, and an FIR will be lodged within six hours. A report on the incident will be sent to the National Medical Commission (NMC) within 48 hours.
- Monitoring Committee: An Institutional Monitoring Committee, chaired by the head of the institution, will conduct monthly reviews of the security measures in place.
These guidelines aim to create a secure and respectful environment for healthcare professionals and students, ensuring their safety and well-being while on duty.
