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The Indian Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction with the progress made by the National Task Force (NTF) constituted to address the safety of medical professionals across the country. The Court, hearing a suo motu case regarding the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College Hospital in August 2024, found that the NTF had not held any meetings since September 9th. This inaction prompted the Court to issue a directive for the NTF to hold regular meetings and finalize its recommendations within three weeks.
The NTF, formed in August 2024, was tasked with analyzing the security situation at medical institutions and suggesting improvements to the working conditions of medical professionals. While the NTF had initiated its work by forming sub-groups and collecting inputs from stakeholders, the Court deemed this insufficient progress. The Solicitor General of India informed the Court that an affidavit detailing the NTF's efforts had been submitted. This affidavit revealed that the NTF had held a meeting on August 27th to form four sub-groups, followed by a meeting of the sub-group convenors and secretaries on September 9th. The Court also learned that a weblink had been created on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's website for seeking public input, resulting in over 17,000 suggestions received. The Ministry had also sent out questionnaires to all states and union territories, receiving responses from over 7600 hospitals and medical establishments. Despite these efforts, the Court felt that the progress was insufficient and demanded tangible results within a defined timeline.
The Supreme Court's decision to impose a three-week deadline underscores the urgency of the situation and the Court's commitment to ensuring the safety of medical professionals. The NTF, comprised of nine members with the Director General Medical Services (Navy) serving as its head, is now under pressure to deliver concrete recommendations for improving the security and working conditions of medical practitioners across India. The Court's order also highlights the broader issue of violence against medical professionals, a concerning trend that has garnered significant public attention and requires immediate and comprehensive solutions. The NTF's progress in the next three weeks will be closely observed, as it carries the weight of the Supreme Court's mandate and the hopes of medical professionals across the country seeking a safer work environment.
Source: NTF On Doctors' Safety Has Not Made Substantial Progress : Supreme Court Sets 3-Week Deadline