500 home guards deployed in 18 Delhi hospitals

Seven cases of violence against doctors in six Delhi hospitals since June 23 prompted the state government on Friday to deploy 500 home guards across 18 state-run hospitals.

The cases of violence on junior and senior residents were reported from state government-run Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Hospital, Maharshi Valmiki Hospital, and Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital, and the central government-run Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

A total of 105 home guards will be deployed at Lok Nayak and GB Pant Hospital, 75 at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, 50 at Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, 45 at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital and 30 each at Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital, Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital and Sanjay Gandhi Hospital.

According to the Delhi government, 1,000 more home guards will be deployed in a later phase in the rest of the hospitals.

"I condemn such incidents of violence in the presence of the Police personnel. I have written to both lieutenant governor and the Delhi Police chief this morning requesting them to ensure safety and security of the doctors. I have also asked the commissioner to conduct an enquiry into the two incidents of violence which were brought to my notice," said Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain.