1 week Ago By Neha Madaan
Pune: Govt has launched a comprehensive security overhaul across all govt medical colleges and hospitals in the state following the gruesome rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. Dinesh Waghmare, principal secretary of the medical education and drugs department, told TOI that extensive measures were being implemented to enhance safety of nurses and women students. A new pass system for entry and exit monitoring was central to the security revamp and had been introduced to restrict access to authorised personnel.
“Identification badges have been issued to staff and will be given to all patients and visitors. We have made it mandatory for hospital staff to display their ID cards while on duty,” Waghmare said. An escort service had been implemented in medical colleges with large campuses to ensure women resident doctors and nurses were accompanied by security personnel and a senior female staff member when travelling distances within the premises, he added.
“In order to strengthen law enforcement connections, senior IPS officers have been assigned to each medical college for quick support and better coordination with local police. A thorough security audit has been conducted across all govt medical colleges to identify and rectify blind spots. Over 2,500 security personnel from the Maharashtra Security Force and Ex-Servicemen Corporation have been deployed to bolster on-ground security,” Waghmare said.
The security strategy included mobile patrols in addition to stationary guards now, as was advised by senior police officials. Proper police outposts were being established within hospital premises, moving beyond the earlier focus on medical-legal paperwork, Waghmare said adding, “We’re filling in the gaps. We have sufficient infrastructure in place, but are addressing any remaining vulnerabilities.
” The surveillance infrastructure had also been improved, with more than 4,000 high-resolution CCTV cameras made functional at strategic locations at the institutes and an additional 3,000 being repaired to ensure comprehensive coverage. “Each major institute will have a dedicated control room to monitor CCTV camera feeds and quick emergency response,” he said. All decisions were taken after a meeting with Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde.
The ministry of health and family welfare had also met to discuss the issue recently. We also published the following articles recently Govt terminates HSCCs contract to build medical colleges & hospitals over work delay The Maharashtra government has ended its contract with HSCC (India) Ltd for building medical colleges and a hospital in Nashik due to delays. The Public Works Department will now manage the project, which has increased in cost from Rs 348 crore to Rs 690 crore.
The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Chhattisgarh: 9 Naxalites killed in encounter with security personnel in Bastar Nine Naxals were killed in an encounter with security forces at the Dantewada-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region. Automatic weapons were seized from the Naxals, and all security personnel are reported to be safe.
A comprehensive report will follow once the area is fully searched and secured. CBI probing biomedical waste scam flagged in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College earlier CBI officers are probing financial corruption at RG Kar Medical College, particularly focusing on alleged scams related to biomedical waste disposal. Documents reveal improper handling of biomedical waste in 2022-2023, involving hospital staff and external companies.
The agency is investigating names linked to the sale and recycling of this waste, including transporters..
