IMA demands laws to deal with violence against health care providers, submits memorandum to Govt
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 08 2018:
Denouncing violence against health workers/service providers, various health institutions and associations in Manipur with Indian Medical Association Manipur Branch have submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Health Minister and Director Health Services to hear their various grievances in carrying out their duties and demanded the Government to enact "The Manipur Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and damage ofLoss to Property) Act".
IMA Manipur State Branch which have been protesting the recent violence against doctors and staff at Thoubal District Hospital on July 28 said that such incidents (violence meted out against doctors/health services staff) are on the rise in the State.
The incident occured after the staff of the district hospital allegedly failed to resuscitate and save a child who drowned in a pond.
As per records available, more than 50 incidents of violence towards Health care Providers took place in the last 3-4 years in the State, said IMA in its statement.
There is an increasing distrust between HCPs and general public and has caused a profound repercussion on the health care system of the State, claimed IMA.
Almost all the district hospitals and other centres suffer from lack of equipment and manpower.
This makes it difficult for the staff and doctors to provide quality services.
The employees can not be held responsible for the failure of the system, said IMA.
According to IMA, there are only 1505 doctors (specialists and non-specialists) serving in the State (public and private).
Of this 643 doctors are in RIMS, JNIMS and different private hospitals.
This leaves us with only 862 doctors to man 563 public healthcare facilities of the State, said IMA and appealed the Government to take up productive measures and prevent "disappointment" among the general public about the lack of quality of service in the health care centres/hospitals.
"Even though doctors have an ingrained attitude for humane service, there is belief among the doctors that they are being made soft targets for whatever fault present in the health care system," lamented the IMA and continued that this has lead to increasing angst and anxiety and a sense of despair among the doctors.
The end result of this is the increasing "Defensive Medicine" practice, which will "directly affect" the health care delivery system of the State, added IMA.
IMA, MSB believes that any suspected professional negligence should be adjudicated by the Manipur Medical Council, continued the IMA.
Stringent action should be taken against persons who indulge in violence against health care providers and damage to health care facilities with a maximum of 7 years imprisonment and fine, said the IMA and demanded the enactment of The Manipur Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and damage of Loss to Property) Act.
IMA, MSB strongly believes and espouses that such rising violent incidents at health care establishment is unhealthy for the society and in the end counterproductive and detrimental to the patients, said the statement.
IMA MSB, doctors of Manipur Hearth Services, Indian Dental Association, RIMS Nurses Association, Association of Surgeons of India, Manipur State Chapter, Association of Physicians of India, Imphal Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society, All Manipur Ayush Doctors Association, TNAI Nursing Staff and Grade IV of Thoubal District Hospital, All Manipur Pharmacists Association and staff and representatives of the various health service providers took out a rally and submitted the memorandum to the Government seeking redressal to their grievances.
Meanwhile, Thoubal River Conservation Committee has appealed the concerned authorities to open the Thoubal District Hospital which was closed following the incident on July 28 before August 15 in the interest of the general public.
Comment
