Police complaint regarding incidents of abuse or violence by any patient or attendant at Delhi government hospitals would have to be filed by the hospital, and doctors or medical staff cannot be asked to do so, the city's health department ordered on Tuesday.

In a circular issued to heads and medical superintendents of various city government-run hospitals and medical institutions, Delhi Health Secretary Sanjeev Khirwar also said, non-compliance of the direction will be "viewed seriously".

"The direction apply to Delhi government hospitals, but we are seeing if it can be extended to private hospitals in the city too," He told PTI.

Various incidents of scuffle have been reported at government and private hospitals in the city in the past.

"All HoDs of hospitals or medical institutions are hereby directed that in case of any incident involving abuse or violence by patients or their attendants, an FIR/complaint is required to be filed by the hospital or institution concerned immediately," the circular says.

"In no case, the individual doctor/para-medical/nursing/ administrative staff, etc, should be asked to lodge the FIR/complaints with the police in such cases," it said.

It will be "incumbent" on the medical superintendent or director of the institution to ensure that an FIR is lodged in such cases promptly by the hospital or the institution concerned rather than insisting on the hospital staff concerned to lodge the FIR, the circular added.

The Delhi government has various hospital under its administration, including the LNJP Hospital, GB Pant Hospital, BSA Hospital, DDU Hospital and the GTB Hospital.

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