New Delhi: The AIIMS Delhi administration has urged striking resident doctors to return to work, emphasising the need to continue patient care.
This appeal comes amid ongoing demands for central legislation to protect healthcare workers, following a tragic incident involving the alleged rape and murder of a female trainee doctor in Kolkata.
In response, AIIMS is undertaking a collaborative internal security audit and installing AI-enabled CCTV cameras on a pilot basis.
Resident doctors at AIIMS have been protesting, demanding enhanced security measures. The administration’s appeal highlights a dual commitment to both patient care and the safety of healthcare professionals.
AIIMS Director Dr V Srinivas remarked, “The entire AIIMS family stands behind the cause of safety of all healthcare professionals at the premier hospital and across the country.”
“However, as doctors, our supreme duty is also to ensure that patients visiting our portals do not go unattended,” he added.
To address the security concerns, AIIMS has decided to conduct a comprehensive internal security audit.
Dr V Srinivas stated, “The administration has decided to undertake a collaborative internal security audit at AIIMS, New Delhi with regard to the safety and security of healthcare professionals, staff, patients, and visitors and to facilitate the same, a 15-member committee has been constituted.”
This committee, led by Dr Puneet Kaur, Head of the Department of Biophysics, includes representatives from FAIIMS, the Resident Doctors Association, the Students Union, the Nurses Union, and the Society of Young Scientists.
The committee will visit various AIIMS campuses, including outreach locations like NCI Jhajjar in Haryana, NDDTC Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, and CRHSP Ballabgarh in Haryana, during both day and night time to inspect and evaluate current security measures.
They aim to identify any additional safety protocols needed and will submit their recommendations promptly.
In the meantime, AIIMS has announced the installation of AI-enabled CCTV cameras at critical entry and exit points of the Mother and Child Block.
An office order elaborated,”The Director AIIMS has taken multiple rounds of the hospital campus and has noted that many times same external persons are found entering and exiting various buildings under the garb of patient attendants, delivery agents, etc. thereby arousing suspicion of such persons being touts or impersonators visiting the campus frequently.”
The order also noted that current security staff face challenges in identifying frequent unauthorised visitors due to shift work, which can lead to inconveniences for genuine guests and patients.
The new AI-enabled CCTV cameras will utilise facial recognition technology to help security staff monitor and control access, identifying frequent visitors and unauthorised personnel more effectively.
The office order specified, “It has been decided to install AI-enabled CCTV cameras at key entry and exit points of Mother and Child Block on a pilot basis. Such cameras shall be able to recognise all visitors with facial recognition technology and shall help security staff to identify which all persons are entering and exiting frequently thereby helping them in access control of unauthorised personnel.”
In addition to these measures, a four-member committee consisting of the Dean (Academic), Dean (Research), Medical Superintendent, and Chief Security Officer has been formed to address immediate security concerns raised by AIIMS healthcare professionals.
The resident doctors’ strike, now in its tenth day, has led to the suspension of elective services in several government hospitals across New Delhi. AIIMS, GTB, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals, Maulana Azad Medical College, and its associated hospitals have all expressed support for the protest, urging participation in a silent protest planned at Jantar Mantar.
The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Associations (FORDA), the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA), and members of Resident Doctors’ Associations from major hospitals in Delhi have been leading an indefinite strike. This protest emerged after the body of a postgraduate trainee doctor was discovered in the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. A civic volunteer was arrested in connection with the crime the following day. The Calcutta High Court has since handed the case over to the CBI for further investigation.
AIIMS Director Dr V Srinivas reiterated, “The government of India is committed to the cause of healthcare professionals’ safety unequivocally and the Supreme Court, while assuring affirmative action for ensuring safety of healthcare professionals, has requested all doctors to resume duties in the interest of patient care.” He further requested, “Requesting the resident doctors of AIIMS New Delhi to resume their duties immediately so that patient care services are normalised.”
The administration’s prompt actions and proposed security measures aim to balance the crucial need for healthcare worker safety while ensuring uninterrupted patient care during this critical period.
