Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Health Secretary Apurva Chandra Discuss Doctor Safety After Kolkata Incident
New Delhi [India], August 28: Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra co-chaired a virtual meeting with Chief Secretaries and DGPs of States to discuss immediate steps for the safety and security of doctors and healthcare professionals. This meeting was in response to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata on August 9.
The Supreme Court had ordered on August 22 that state governments and Union Territories must implement basic safety measures for doctors, pending the report from the National Task Force (NTF). The first NTF meeting, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, was held on Tuesday.
During the virtual meeting, the Union Health Secretary encouraged States to come up with innovative ideas to enhance security for healthcare workers. Immediate measures discussed included joint security audits, regular security checks, and the establishment of control rooms in large hospitals. Other suggestions included mock drills, training for security personnel, and routine night patrolling in hospital premises.
The virtual meeting was followed by the first meeting of the National Task Force, where detailed discussions were held on various issues related to healthcare worker safety. All members, including the Home Secretary and Health Secretary, were present.
Doubts Revealed
Union Home Secretary -: The Union Home Secretary is a senior official in the Indian government who is responsible for internal security and law and order in the country.
Health Secretary -: The Health Secretary is a senior official in the Indian government who is responsible for public health and medical services in the country.
Kolkata -: Kolkata is a big city in India, located in the state of West Bengal. It is known for its rich culture and history.
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes important decisions on legal issues and ensures that laws are followed.
National Task Force -: The National Task Force is a group of experts and officials who work together to solve important problems, like the safety of healthcare workers.
Cabinet Secretary -: The Cabinet Secretary is the top-most official in the Indian government who helps coordinate the work of different government departments.