The authorities of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) here have decided to take several measures to enhance security on the premises, particularly for women doctors,female students and other female employees.

The steps are being planned in the wake of the rape and murder of the junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Calcutta.

The measures will include the installation of more CCTV cameras, deployment of additional security personnel, transport arrangements for junior doctors, extra restrooms in the wards,restricted entry of outsiders, regulation in themovement of private ambulances and removal of unauthorised eateries from the NBMCH campus.

“Security measures will be beefed up at NBMCH. Some new steps have been planned and will be implemented soon,” Gautam Deb, the chairman of the Rogi Kalyan Samiti of the NBMCH, saidon Monday.

Sources said the NBMCH has around 280 senior doctors and 200 junior doctors and interns. “Around 50 per cent of them are women. Over 500 nurses are also posted here,” said a source.

According to the plan, transport facilities will be arranged for junior doctors to reach different wards from their hostels. The NBMCH spread over 104 acres is the largest state-run referral hospital in north Bengal.

“As of now, 70-odd CCTV cameras are on the campus while 80 private guards work in three shifts round the clock. We have decided to increase the number of CCTV cameras and guards,” said a source.

The NBMCH authorities have also started renovating the restrooms of doctors in the wards. Besides, a new restroom is under construction near the emergency ward.

At the NBMCH, doctors, interns and students who stay on the campus raised questions frequently about the indiscriminate entry of people other than patients and their relatives.

Many private ambulances are also parked on the campus every day.

“We will restrict the entry of people. Private ambulances will also be regulated,” said Deb, who is also the mayorof Siliguri.

Alcohol detector

The South Dinajpur district health department willinstall an alcohol detectormachine at the main entrance to the Balurghat districthospital.

“The machine will be installed to prevent the entry of any drunk person. We are also closing the vacant rooms on three floors of the hospital. More lights will be fitted for adequate illumination of the campus,” said Sudipta Das, the chief medical officer of health of the district.

Conservancy service

Siliguri mayor Gautam Deb launched conservancy services at the NBMCH on Monday.

Deb said garbage would be collected from the NBMCH and disposed of for a fortnight on an experimental basis. The civic body will charge ₹3.68 lakh from the NBMCH for the 15-day service.

“As of now, the service will be provided for 15 days. In September, we will meet to discuss how apermanent arrangement can be made for the collectionand the disposal of waste,”he said.

Additional reporting by Kousik Sen in Raiganj and Binita Paul in Siliguri