Osmania General Hospital’s security infrastructure came into question on Sunday following an assault on doctors at the public health facility.
Junior doctors, who struck work in protest, claimed that the hospital does not have any functional security cameras or alarm systems, which puts both doctors and patients at risk. They also criticised the administration’s response after such incidents in the past.
“The only functional cameras in the hospital are in the office of Superintendent. Other areas including the common passage ways and the vast grounds have no security cameras. That apart, a limited number of security personnel was stationed at the casualty but rest of the hospital was not covered,” a protesting doctor said.
The police, which evaluated the security set-up of the hospital on Monday, made similar observations.
“The hospital administration has been told several times about the need for cameras and access control. We have pointed out locations where the cameras have to be set up and which gates to be closed, in order to tighten security. But, no such measures have been implemented,” a police official said.
The protesting doctors are also demanding the installation of an alarm system that can be buzzed by a doctor in case of an emergency like assault, to alert security staff. To enhance security at the moment, the police devised a patrolling plan that will see some uniformed men patrol the hospital, along with hospital’s security staff, and log in details of the patrol in a registry that will be checked by a duty doctor.