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Bhubaneswar, August 21: With the Orissa Medical Services Association (OMSA), a body of government doctors, threatening mass resignation over attack on doctors at hospitals, Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak Sunday assured of stringent action against persons involved in such assaults.
“The state government is taking all possible measures for safety of doctors at health institution and will take strong action against persons involved in attacks on doctors,” said Nayak.
The minister said that the health department is taking steps for stringent implementation of laws framed in 2009 for protection and security of doctors. It is also in talk with the home department for deployment of police personnel and ensuring other safety measures at government hospitals.
Nayak added that CCTVs will be installed in sensitive hospital areas to monitor people.
Doctors are up in arms over a spate of attacks on them in the recent weeks.
While a doctor was attacked last Wednesday at Puri district headquarters hospital by the relatives of a patient on ground of medical negligence leading to his death, another doctor sustained critical injuries at Balasore hospital and was admitted to ICU after a patient’s relatives allegedly beat him up.
Alleging state government’s silence over this sensitive issue, the OMSA has threatened to tender mass resignation September 1 if the government fails to take appropriate safety and security measures in hospitals.
Last Friday health department secretary Arti Ahuja had also sent a missive to home department to set up police outposts and take adequate measures to provide 24-hour security to doctors and staff in government health institutions.