Pune: On the occasion of National Doctors’ Day celebrated on July 1, doctors from the city said that safety at workplace can play a vital role in healthcare delivery.
Each year, July 1 is observed as National Doctors’ Day. It is observed to honour physician and West Bengal’s former Chief Minister Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy. This year the celebration is to raise awareness about the importance of doctors and the crucial role they play in our day-to-day lives.
The theme this year is ‘Zero tolerance to violence against doctors and clinical establishments’. It is announced by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The National Doctor’s Day theme this year is meant to raise awareness about violence happening to doctors across India.
Speaking to Sakal Times, Dr Avinash Bhondwe, President elect of Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra State said IMA is proposing a national protocol to protect doctors at small and big hospitals.
“We are working to implement a violence registry which will keep a record of all offenders who have committed an act of violence against doctors. This will be available across the country to doctors. Followed by this, retired police officials will also form a team to assess incidents of violence at medical establishments,” he said.
He said IMA is trying to make guidelines for doctors which can effectively tackle the situations involving violence. “Situations like where the patient is declared dead, bill is an issue and other situations where the family members became violent. In such situations what the doctors should do and how they can save themselves has to be communicated to them. These guidelines will serve that option,” said Dr Bhondwe.
Pratiksha Bansali, a third year MBBS student from a private medical college in Maharashtra said the doctors are the backbone of a healthy society.
“The doctor-patient relationship is on the verge of breaking down due to the increasing violence. I feel if there is only one family member along with the patient, there are chances of less violence. On the other hand it is also to keep a check on spreading of hospital infections,” said Bansali.
