What steps taken to ensure safety of doctors: HC asks AAP govt

The Delhi High Court today asked the AAP government about the steps it has taken to ensure safety and security of medical professionals working in hospitals in the national capital.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar directed the health secretary of the Delhi government to indicate on the affidavit the steps taken pursuant to the court's February 28 order.

With the direction, the bench listed the matter for further hearing on April 10.

On February 28, the court had raised concerns over the safety of doctors, in view of the frequent attacks on them, and had warned the authorities of contempt action if adequate measures were not taken to ensure security of medical professionals.

The high court had passed the order after taking note of a news report that two resident doctors were allegedly assaulted by a patient's attendants and relatives at the Lok Nayak Hospital, governed by the Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC).

The Delhi Police had registered an FIR in the case and initiated an inquiry.

The bench had last year initiated its own proceedings against the Centre, the Delhi government and other concerned after perusing a report on the rise in violent attacks on doctors. It had initiated the PIL based on a report that doctors in public hospitals were being subjected to extreme violence.

The court had expressed unhappiness over the Centre's report on the issue of number of doctors in its hospitals here, saying it was "hopelessly insufficient".