The Supreme Court of India has set up a National Task Force (NTF) regarding the matters of safety as, in general, applying to medical professionals in the entire country. This was on 20 August 2024, the day after the gruesome rape and murder of the trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College Hospital in Kolkata.
National Task Force Formation
The NTF was formed by a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. The main objective behind the NTF is to create panoramic recommendations that will strengthen the safety and working environment of healthcare professionals across the nation.
Who’s Who of the NTF
The NTF consists of a range of experts in the medical sphere:
Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin AVSM, VSM – Director General Medical Services (Navy)
Dr. D Nageshwar Reddy – Chairman and Managing Director, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad
Dr. M Srinivas – Director, AIIMS Delhi
Dr. Pratima Murthy – Director, NIMHANS, Bangalore
Dr. Goverdhen Dutt Puri – Executive Director, AIIMS Jodhpur
Dr. Saumitra Rawat – Chairperson, Institute of Surgical Gastroenterology, Delhi
Prof. Anita Saxena – Vice Chancellor, Pandit DD Sharma Medical University, Rohtak
Dr. Pallavi Saple – Dean, Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai
Dr. Padma Srivastava – Ex Professor, AIIMS Delhi and Chairperson Neurology, Paras Health
Besides these, several ex-officio members are in the form of key government functionaries; such as the Cabinet Secretary and the Home Secretary.
Terms of Reference and Responsibilities
The NTF is entrusted with preparation of recommendations in two broad areas:.
Prevention of violence against healthcare professionals, particularly gender-based.
Creation of a National Protocol for Safe Working Conditions of All Medical Professionals with Dignity
The Court held that “healthcare professionals” include doctors, interns, residents, nurses and all other categories of healthcare professionals.
Recommendations Timeline
The NTF is supposed to furnish an interim report within three weeks and the final report within two months of its setting up.
Key Issues Identified
The Supreme Court highlighted several critical issues affecting medical professionals:
Lack of proper resting areas for night-duty staff.
Long shifts without proper sanitation and nutrition.
Not enough security personnel in healthcare facilities.
Lack of proper access control mechanisms that lead to vulnerability.
These systemic failures have exposed health care workers to violence and harassment in their workplaces.
Recommendations for Improvement
To tackle these issues effectively, the NTF recommendations will focus on:
Security personnel be more in healthcare facilities. Security committees should be established in healthcare setups.
Implementation of high-security check for all the people who enter the hospitals.
Separate resting rooms for both the male and female doctors.
Distress call system and quick response teams in hospitals.
Conclusion
The establishment of the National Task Force is thus an important step towards the realization of the safe and healthy workforce in India. It aims to establish comprehensive recommendations and protocols in dealing with systemic issues that may be a factor to ensure a safer working environment for those dedicated to healthcare services in the country. This urgency reflects a broader commitment to protecting those who care for public health amidst growing concerns over their safety in clinical settings.
