The state government has decided to allocate funds to install CCTV cameras and boost security measures in all 26 government medical colleges across Bengal in the wake of the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar.
A source said the state health department would sanction ₹5 lakh to each medical college as an immediate allotment, specifically to install more CCTV cameras in strategic locations where female doctors spend time, especially at night.
“There are CCTV cameras in most medical colleges, but the government doubts whether the coverage is sufficient. That is why the immediate funds were sanctioned to cover particular areas. However, if the need is greater for any medical college, the state will allocate additional funds,” said a senior health department official.
“The decision was made after health secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam convened a meeting with the principals of all 26 government medical colleges on Saturday evening,” he added.
Bengal has 26 government medical colleges along with nine that are privately run. After the RG Kar incident, the government stressed the need to review the security arrangements, particularly for women, at the medical colleges.
“It was the chief minister’s instruction to review the security. She also asked the government to scrutinise the role of hospital administration in taking preventive measures. The authorities of all the medical colleges have been asked to flag any security issues on their campuses,” said a principal of a medical college and hospital.
The health department has also asked the principals to deploy more security personnel in places where female doctors are on duty or resting.
“All the medical colleges were asked to allocate a dedicated restroom for female doctors, juniors or trainees in the hospitals, with security personnel stationed and covered by CCTV cameras,” said a health official.
An associate professor at a government medical college said the entry of unauthorised persons into hospitals was a primary security concern.
“The health department should instruct the principals of all medical colleges to prevent the access of unauthorised persons who mainly work as touts to admit patients. If all the medical colleges restrict the entry of these dalals, such incidents can be avoided,” he added.
Junior doctors and trainees in most medical colleges continued their cease-work on Sunday to demand justice for the victim, severely affecting treatment and health services.
On Sunday, the health department issued an order to the principals of medical colleges, asking them to cancel all leaves for doctors, nurses, and healthcare staff for an indefinite period.
“In all medical colleges, which serve as the primary healthcare facilities in the districts, services were shut down except for emergency treatment. As a result, the entire healthcare system across Bengal was paralysed. So, the government cancelled leaves for government employees, asking them to resume work in the absence of the juniors,” said a medical college principal.
In East Burdwan, a civic volunteer named Sushanta Roy was arrested for threatening a lady doctor at Bhatar Block Hospital.
