Gauhati HC seeks report on measures taken for the safety of doctors

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has directed the state government to file a report in detail in two weeks regarding the measures taken by the government or the measures it proposes to take to ensure the safety of doctors and frontline medical workers.
The Bench of Chief Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak passed the order on Monday taking suo motu cognizance of the concerns raised in a petition about the safety of doctors and frontline medical workers.
Apart from the concern for doctors and paramedics, the PIL touches on an incident, where a doctor was manhandled and beaten up by a mob at the Udali Model Hospital in Assam's Hojai district following the death of a Covid-19 patient on June 1. There is also a prayer in the petition that suitable measures be taken by the state to ensure such incidents do not occur in future.
During the hearing, the state government informed the court that a total of 24 people have been arrested in connection with the assault case in Hojai and sent to judicial custody.
The state government said it is aware of the care it has to give its doctors and paramedics and was open to any suggestions and guidelines in this regard as it is a public interest litigation. The letter petition was filed by Sneha Kalita, advocate on record, Supreme Court, on June 2.
She said, "It was basically a move seeking protection of the doctors and frontline health workers. The security system is very week in hospitals in the state. Many incidents of attack on doctors and frontline health workers happen in remote areas because of poor access to police and these cases go unreported. To strengthen security at medical colleges and health centres is what we want for the protection of frontline health workers. Therefore, we have filed this letter petition and the High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of it and treated it as PIL."
She further said that they have made a few other prayers, including installation of notice boards in big size, warning signs and help desks at each and every hospital and health centre. "We prayed that the high court kindly directs the state government for the installation of warnings at hospitals and health centres conveying messages to attendants and others not to display any kind of violence against the medical fraternity as well as health workers," she said.