In response to the tragic rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, the Supreme Court’s National Task Force (NTF) convened its first meeting on August 27. The meeting marks the beginning of a crucial initiative to improve the safety and security of medical professionals across India.
Key Members Attend First Meeting
The first meeting was attended by all the members of the NTF, according to official sources. The task force, which was established by the Supreme Court, has been given the responsibility to develop recommendations aimed at protecting medical professionals at their workplaces.
Two Focus Areas for the Task Force
Dr. Saumitra Rawat, a prominent member of the National Task Force, explained the main focus areas of the task force. “We are expected to work in two different areas, it has been told to us by the CJI – the first issue is preventing violence against medical professionals, second is to draft a national protocol for dignified and safe working for the doctors, nurses and all the paramedical staffs.”
Interim Report Expected Within Three Weeks
Dr. Rawat, who also serves as the Chairman and Head of the Institute of Surgical Gastroenterology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH), revealed that the Supreme Court has requested the task force to submit an interim report within three weeks, followed by a final report within two months. The NTF’s findings and recommendations will play a crucial role in shaping policies aimed at ensuring the safety of medical professionals in India.
Members of The National Task Force
The National Task Force comprises 14 members, including both ex-officio members and medical experts. The group is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, Government of India, with other members including:
– Home Secretary, Government of India
– Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India (Member Secretary)
– Chairperson, National Medical Commission
– President, National Board of Examinations
– Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, AVSM, VSM, Director General Medical Services (Navy)
– Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad
– Dr. M. Srinivas, Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi
– Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru
– Dr. Goverdhan Dutt Puri, Executive Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur
– Dr. Saumitra Rawat, Chairperson, Institute of Surgical Gastroenterology, GI and HPB Onco-Surgery, and Liver Transplantation at SGRH, New Delhi
– Professor Anita Saxena, Vice-Chancellor, Pandit BD Sharma Medical University, Rohtak, and Former Dean of Academics at AIIMS, Delhi
– Dr. Pallavi Saple, Dean, Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai
– Dr. Padma Srivastava, formerly Professor at the Department of Neurology
A Collaborative Effort for Safer Workplaces
Dr. Rawat emphasized the collaborative nature of the task force’s work, stating, “So we, or everybody in the committee, we will work together, and we will come up with the guidelines.”
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The task force’s recommendations will be crucial in establishing a safer working environment for doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff across the country, potentially setting a new standard for healthcare worker safety in India.