Bhubaneswar: In an effort to increase safety of doctors and healthcare professionals, the govt has decided to appoint officers either in the rank of additional superintendent of police (ASP) or deputy superintendent of police (DSP) as security officers in medical colleges and hospitals across Odisha.Besides, the commissionerate police have been tasked with developing a specialised training module for private security personnel currently deployed in govt hospitals.The decisions were taken at a recent state-level task force meeting chaired by chief secretary Anu Garg, who reviewed the safety of doctors, medical students and other healthcare staff in medical facilities.“Security officers in the rank of ASP, DSP or deputy commandant will be posted at all 14 medical colleges, the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar, and Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer in Cuttack,” read the official minutes of the meeting.These posts will be created with the concurrence of the finance department and filled through regular appointments, though retired officers of equivalent rank may be engaged until permanent appointments are made.Dr Jayant Kumar Panda, executive body member of Odisha Medical Teachers’ Association, lauded the decision. “We welcome the government’s security plan for healthcare institutions. Its swift implementation will ensure greater safety and support for doctors, healthcare workers as well as patients,” Dr Panda said.District headquarters hospitals will have security officers in the rank of inspector. “At present, hospital security is managed by outsourced private personnel who require proper training and orientation. The commissioner of police, Bhubaneswar, has volunteered to train and orient the security staff at Capital Hospital and may be requested to prepare a training module that can be replicated across districts,” the order read.The govt, mindful of repeated attacks on doctors and nationwide outrage following the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor in West Bengal, had introduced a policy in Sept 2024 to protect healthcare professionals.“An online training programme for medical officials on filing institutional FIRs will be conducted under the arrangements of the ADG (law & order), with completion targeted by April 30. Police outposts will also be established in all medical colleges, with college authorities directed to allocate rooms for their functioning. In new institutions, provisions for outposts will be incorporated into the master plan,” the order stated.A committee headed by the ADG (law & order), with IG (fire services) and special secretary of the health and family welfare department as members, has been constituted to develop a protocol for ambulance requisition and specialist deployment during VIP visits. The committee will submit its report within a month, and 15 ambulances will be procured exclusively for VIP duties in addition to the existing fleet.
