Doctors Must Submit Reports Within 48 Hours or Face Action; Mixed Reactions from Medical Community
Chandigarh: In response to the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s concerns over prolonged delays in submitting medical reports in criminal cases, the Punjab Health Department has mandated that all government doctors must hand over medical reports, including X-rays, CT scans, and other test results, to investigating officers (IOs) within 48 hours of their preparation.
The directive, issued recently, applies across all government medical institutions in the state. Heads of institutions have been asked to ensure the instructions are widely circulated and strictly implemented. Doctors failing to comply with the 48-hour deadline could face disciplinary and legal action.
Court’s Concern Prompted Action
The order follows a stern observation by Justice Shekhawat of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who noted that delays stretching into weeks or even months are seriously hampering investigations and obstructing justice. The court had earlier directed the Haryana Health Department to ensure timely submission of medical reports — a directive that now sees a parallel implementation in Punjab.
Compliance Mechanism Underway
Principal Secretary (Health) Kumar Rahul recently held a meeting with senior officials to draft a compliance framework. He confirmed that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will soon be finalised and circulated to institutional heads. Meanwhile, the Director General of Police (DGP) has also instructed IOs to ensure timely collection of reports, warning that any default will be taken seriously.
Medical Fraternity Reacts
The move has received mixed responses from the medical community:
- Dr Mehtab Bal of the Resident Doctors’ Association acknowledged the intent behind the directive but flagged practical challenges. “We’re dealing with massive patient loads, limited staff, and equipment shortages. Emergency and life-threatening cases must always take precedence,” he said, adding that many smaller centres lack access to CT and MRI machines, leading to delays due to referrals.
- On the other hand, the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) has taken strong exception to the directive. PCMSA President Dr Akhil Sarin announced that the association would challenge the court order in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, arguing that the system is not equipped to meet such stringent timelines.
“We demand immediate recruitment of computer operators and upgrades to medico-legal data software to enable timely documentation,” Dr Sarin said. A 10-member legal committee has already been formed, and a formal appeal is expected to be filed by late July or early August.
As the matter unfolds, the implementation of this directive will likely be watched closely by both legal and medical communities, as it seeks to strike a balance between judicial urgency and on-ground healthcare limitations.
