Union Health Minister JP Nadda Calls for Safety Policies in Medical Colleges After Tragic Incident in Kolkata

The National Medical Commission (NMC), under the guidance of Union Health Minister JP Nadda, has issued an advisory to all medical colleges and institutions to develop policies for a safe work environment. This advisory comes in response to recent incidents of violence against doctors.

The advisory emphasizes the need for adequate safety measures in various areas of the campus, including OPD, wards, casualty, hostels, and residential quarters. It also calls for well-lit corridors and CCTV coverage in sensitive areas. Additionally, it mandates the presence of adequate security staff, both male and female, in key areas.

Any incidents of violence against medical students must be promptly investigated, and an FIR should be lodged with the police. A detailed action report on any incident must be sent to the NMC within 48 hours.

This advisory follows the tragic rape and murder of a female doctor in Kolkata. Union Health Minister JP Nadda criticized the West Bengal government and welcomed the Calcutta High Court’s decision to order a CBI investigation into the case. Nadda expressed concern over the increasing atrocities against women in the state, despite having a woman Chief Minister.

Earlier, Nadda met with a delegation from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which called for a thorough inquiry into the crime and measures to enhance the safety of doctors, particularly women, in the workplace. The post-graduate trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9, with investigations confirming rape and murder.