MLA visits GMC, discusses security issue with docs
Manmeet Singh Gill
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, August 18
Amid the ongoing concerns regarding the security of medical professionals at their workplace, Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, MLA, Aam Aadmi Party, visited the Government Medical College (GMC) here on Sunday evening to learn and discuss about efforts required to beef up security at the health facility.
The GMC authorities, including Principal Dr Rajiv Devgan and Guru Nanak Dev Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Karanjit Singh, apprised the MLA of the ground reality. They told the MLA that around 12,000 to 15,000 people visited the GMC every day. They pointed out that keeping an eye on every individual was difficult, especially as the GMC was a public place.
Dr Nijjar discussed ways of managing the crowd and suggested that a separate langar (community kitchen) area should be earmarked at the hospital. At present, various social and religious organisations organise daily langars at the hospital for the benefit of patients and their attendants.
The GMC authorities said designating a place for organisations to serve langar would ensure that no unwarranted person had any reason to visit the hospital area. The authorities suggested that a sarai built near the hospital entrance could be used for the purpose.
Dr Nijjar, who was also accompanied by former senior health officer Dr Ranjit Singh Buttar, suggested to train the security staff and sensitise them about issues that health institutions face. He said senior functionaries of the Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation (PESCO), which was managing the GMC security, would be asked to organise training sessions for the hospital staff.
While protests are being held all over the country to highlight the need for safety at workplace, students and resident doctors here too took out a candle march on the GMC campus on Sunday and demanded that serious efforts were needed to instil a sense of security among medical professionals.
A woman resident doctor said, “Ever since the Kolkata incident, most of us fear going to wards at night. Everyone is afraid. Our parents are very concerned and worried.” She said more security personal and CCTV cameras could enhance security at the GMC.
