New Delhi: In a major step to curb rising violence against healthcare workers, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel, informed the Rajya Sabha that all medical institutions and government hospitals across the country have been directed to register an FIR within six hours of any assault or attack on a medical practitioner.
Health and Law & Order Remain State Subjects
Responding to a query raised by Parliamentarian Shri Abdul Wahab, the Minister clarified that while the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has issued clear advisories, “Health” and “Law & Order” are State subjects as per the Constitution. Therefore, the primary responsibility for preventing and addressing attacks lies with the respective State or Union Territory governments.
“Data and details regarding attacks on medical professionals are not maintained centrally,” Patel stated in her written reply.
MoHFW Issues National Advisory for Timely FIRs and Security Measures
To address the growing concern, MoHFW has directed:
- All Central Government Hospitals and AIIMS branches
- All Medical Colleges
to ensure that FIRs are filed within six hours of any violent incident involving doctors or healthcare workers. Additionally, State and UT governments have been advised to enhance hospital security and workplace safety for medical professionals.
Background: Surge in Attacks on Doctors Across India
Incidents of violence against doctors have increased in recent years, with several cases reported from government hospitals and medical colleges. We has been documenting such incidents, ranging from verbal abuse and manhandling to physical assaults, many of which have led to protests and strikes by junior doctors.
In some cases, prompt FIRs led to timely arrests, but in others, delays in registration or lack of FIRs entirely hampered justice and emboldened aggressors.
Supreme Court Intervenes in Wake of Kolkata Incident
Taking serious note of the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, the Supreme Court of India constituted a National Task Force (NTF) to examine:
- Safety and working conditions of medical professionals
- Institutional protocols
- Broader policy recommendations
According to the Minister, the NTF has already submitted its report to the apex court, and it is expected to form the basis for systemic reforms in the healthcare workforce environment.
A Long-Standing Demand of the Medical Community
The directive for time-bound FIR registration has been a long-standing demand by medical associations, especially in the wake of frequent attacks on frontline healthcare workers. Experts believe this move will strengthen accountability and act as a deterrent against hospital violence.
Healthcare professionals and student bodies have welcomed the Centre’s advisory but continue to push for the enactment of a central law specifically protecting medical professionals—an issue that has remained unresolved for years.
