The Supreme Court has concluded its hearing on the RG Kar Hospital case, raising serious concerns about the security measures in place at various hospitals across West Bengal. During the proceedings, explosive revelations were made about the safety of doctors, prompting the Court to question the state on steps taken to ensure the protection of healthcare professionals.
In response, West Bengal’s Health Secretary, Narayan Swaroop Nigam, informed the court that all state hospitals would soon have dedicated restrooms, security-enhanced duty rooms, and CCTV cameras for doctors. The Supreme Court, particularly focused on RG Kar Hospital, was informed that the hospital, which previously had only 37 CCTV cameras, will now be equipped with an additional 415 cameras to boost security.
Supreme Court’s Reaction
Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, expressed surprise at the drastic increase in CCTV coverage, questioning the previous lack of surveillance at the hospital. “You now plan to install 415 cameras, but there were only 37 before?” he asked, highlighting the insufficiency of earlier security measures.
Concerns Over Civic Volunteers
The Court also addressed the issue of civic volunteers working in hospitals. Chief Justice Chandrachud pointed out that 28 medical colleges and 17 government-affiliated hospitals in the state employ young volunteers, often aged between 18 and 23. He questioned the efficacy of short-term contractual training programs for these volunteers and their ability to ensure hospital security.
“How does the state expect adequate security from contractual workers who receive only seven days of training?” asked the Chief Justice, urging the state to reconsider its policy on deploying untrained civic volunteers in critical roles.
Steps Ahead
In light of these concerns, the West Bengal government is expected to take immediate action to enhance hospital security and reconsider its strategy for employing contractual security staff. The installation of 415 CCTV cameras at RG Kar Hospital is a significant first step, but the Court’s concerns about volunteer safety remain a pressing issue that requires further attention.