Supreme Court Forms Task Force for Doctors’ Safety After Tragic Incident in Kolkata
The Supreme Court of India has established a 14-member National Task Force (NTF) to address the safety and working conditions of medical professionals. This decision follows the tragic rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, which has sparked nationwide protests and strikes by the medical community.
Task Force Composition
The NTF will be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary of the Government of India. Other members include:
- Home Secretary, Government of India
- Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Chairperson, National Medical Commission
- President, National Board of Examinations
- Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General Medical Services (Navy)
- Dr. D Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad
- Dr. M Srinivas, Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi
- Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru
- Dr. Goverdhan Dutt Puri, Executive Director, AIIMS, Jodhpur
- Dr. Saumitra Rawat, Chairperson, Institute of Surgical Gastroenterology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi
- Professor Anita Saxena, Vice-Chancellor, Pandit BD Sharma Medical University, Rohtak
- Dr. Pallavi Saple, Dean, Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai
- Dr. Padma Srivastava, Chairperson of Neurology at Paras Health Gurugram
Objectives and Timeline
The NTF is tasked with formulating recommendations to improve the safety and working conditions of medical professionals. They will submit an interim report within three weeks and a final report within two months from the Supreme Court’s order dated August 20.
Support and Logistics
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will provide logistical support, including travel arrangements and secretarial assistance, for the NTF members.
Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) Role
The IMA has been actively advocating for a central law to protect healthcare workers. They have highlighted the urgent need for safety and security in medical establishments and have called for the implementation of the draft bill from 2019, which includes amendments from the Epidemic Diseases Amendment Act, 2020.
Impact of Ongoing Strikes
Due to ongoing strikes by resident doctors, various medical services at AIIMS, Delhi, have been significantly affected, including outpatient departments, admissions, and operation theatres.
Doubts Revealed
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes important decisions about laws and justice.
Task Force -: A Task Force is a group of people chosen to work on a specific problem or task. In this case, they are working on doctors’ safety.
Doctors’ Safety -: Doctors’ safety means making sure that doctors are safe from harm while they are working.
Tragic Incident -: A tragic incident is a very sad and unfortunate event. Here, it refers to the rape and murder of a junior doctor.
Kolkata -: Kolkata is a big city in India, located in the state of West Bengal.
National Task Force (NTF) -: The National Task Force (NTF) is a special group formed to solve a national issue. Here, it is about doctors’ safety.
Cabinet Secretary -: The Cabinet Secretary is a top government official who helps the Prime Minister and the Cabinet with their work.
Interim Report -: An interim report is a temporary report that gives an update on the work done so far. It is not the final report.
Indian Medical Association (IMA) -: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) is a group of doctors in India that works to protect their interests and improve healthcare.
Central Law -: A central law is a law made by the central government of India that applies to the whole country.
Healthcare Workers -: Healthcare workers are people who work in hospitals and clinics to take care of sick people, like doctors and nurses.