KDA Have Parleys With Health Minister
Reform in Health Deptt Regular process: Sham
Srinagar – In the backdrop of recent attacks by attendants of patients on doctors, Jammu and Kashmir Government today said necessary steps would be taken to ensure safety of the medics working in different hospitals during duty hours.
“Necessary measures will be taken for the safety of doctors while on duty… In fact, the Government is working on the issue and shortly an appropriate decision will come,” Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma said interacting with a deputation of Kashmir Doctors Association here.
The deputation led by the association’s President Nisar-ul-Hassan demanded for bringing special legislation for the protection of on-duty doctors saying that many times they become victims of angry attendants and unscrupulous elements in the hospital premises.
“Administration will deal with such unscrupulous elements effectively,” the minister assured.
The doctors suggested several measures to further improve the patient care in the health institutions and proper utilisation of manpower, an official spokesman said.
They also asked for regular refresher courses in different fields for doctors and modern infrastructure, he said adding, timely meetings of departmental promotion committees, time bound promotions and other welfare measures were among other demands.
They renewed their demand for bringing special legislation for the protection of on-duty doctors as many times they are the victi of anger of attendants and unscrupulous elements in the hospital premises during the duty hours. They said the issue already stand discussed with the Government after the recent incidents in the SMHS hospital which was followed by strike by the doctors. The Government appreciated the concern about the sensitivity of the matter and assured that necessary measures would be taken for the safety of doctors while on duty and administration will deal with such unscrupulous elements effectively.
The Minister gave patient hearing to the deputationists and assured that their all pending demands would be addressed in a phased manner. He said Government has already taken several measures for the welfare of the employees of health department and the process will continue. He appealed them to work with renewed commitment and serve the patients with missionary approach and maintain the medical ethics.