 |
|
In a proactive response to a recent violent incident against a doctor, the Tamil Nadu government has announced the implementation of a patient attendant tag system across all government medical colleges, district headquarters hospitals, and taluk hospitals. This decision follows the stabbing of Dr. Balaji Jagannathan, a senior oncologist, by the son of a patient he had treated at the Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital (KCSSH). This incident, coupled with a previous case of a postgraduate medical student being raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, highlighted the need for enhanced safety measures in healthcare settings.
The tag system, initially piloted at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) in early October, aims to reduce crowding and improve the security of healthcare professionals. It employs a color-coded system to identify patient areas, with green tags for attendants of patients in surgical super specialities, red for those in Intensive Care Units, yellow for super speciality departments, and blue for general wards. Each patient will receive two tags for their attendants. In addition to the tag system, metal detectors and baggage scanners will be piloted in one or two hospitals as a further security enhancement, responding to requests from doctors' associations.
The Tamil Nadu government has also taken comprehensive steps to improve security across all government medical colleges and campuses. Joint security audits conducted by the police and health departments ensure that CCTV cameras are functional and monitored continuously, lighting is adequate, and police outposts are strengthened. These measures underscore the government's commitment to fostering a safe and secure environment for healthcare professionals and patients alike. The implementation of these security measures is being overseen by the Directorates of Medical Education and Research and Medical and Rural Health Services in a phased approach across 36 government medical colleges, 37 district headquarters hospitals, and 320 taluk hospitals.
This initiative reflects a growing concern for the safety and well-being of healthcare professionals, particularly in light of recent incidents. The patient attendant tag system, coupled with enhanced security measures, aims to create a more secure and controlled environment within government hospitals, mitigating the risks of violence and harassment. The government's commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and safety demonstrates its dedication to providing quality healthcare services in a safe and accessible manner, further strengthening public trust in government hospitals.
Source: After Doctor's Assault, Tamil Nadu To Introduce Patient Attendant Tag System