Kolkata: In a tragic turn of events at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, a young female doctor was sexually assaulted and killed, sparking national outrage and a doctors’ strike. This incident highlights the failure to implement promised security measures in West Bengal’s public hospitals, a commitment made by the state government five years ago.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the government had pledged enhanced security provisions including female guards to support female physicians and controlled entry points at hospitals. However, none of these measures were in place at the hospital where the crime occurred on August 9, allegedly committed by a police volunteer and witnessed by four trainee doctors.
On the days leading up to the assault and murder, the hospital’s security was minimal, with only two male guards and insufficient surveillance coverage. Trainee doctors reported that the closed-circuit cameras installed did not cover all areas of the large premises. Additionally, they noted significant lapses in facility maintenance, including a lockless door at a lecture hall where the victim was resting during a 36-hour shift and a malfunctioning air conditioner in the designated break room.
Following assaults on two doctors by a patient’s relatives in 2019, the state had issued a memo promising to install effective security equipment and systems and to regulate access to hospital premises. The memo also mentioned the creation of a compensation policy for assaulted staff. This document, dated June 17, 2019, resulted from a meeting between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and protesting trainee doctors, serving as a record note of their discussions. However, the memo did not specify the recipients or the timeframe for implementing these safety measures.
The recent incident has highlighted the stark gap between governmental promises and the reality of security in public hospitals, raising serious concerns about the safety of healthcare workers in West Bengal.