West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday directed officials to ensure the safety and security of patients, doctors, and visitors across all medical establishments in the state.
Her strong message followed two shocking molestation incidents reported this week at state-run hospitals in Kolkata and Uluberia, officials said.
According to a senior bureaucrat, Banerjee addressed a high-level meeting over the phone and instructed authorities to adopt a zero-tolerance approach toward such offences.
“Harassment of anyone coming for treatment will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” the official quoted Banerjee as saying.
Security Review Ordered Across State Hospitals
Banerjee, who also holds the Health Ministry portfolio, ordered an immediate review of existing hospital security systems and directed the health department to strengthen safety measures wherever necessary.
“These include enhanced training for security personnel, installation and monitoring of CCTV cameras, and infrastructural and administrative steps to ensure patient safety,” the official said.
The high-level meeting, convened by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, was attended by DGP Rajeev Kumar, Health Secretary NS Nigam, and other senior officers from the state health department. Officials were instructed to submit an action plan to implement these directives at the earliest.
The directive comes in the wake of two disturbing incidents that have sparked public outrage.
At Kolkata’s SSKM Hospital, a teenage girl was allegedly molested by a former Group D staffer on Wednesday night. The accused was arrested from Dhapa and booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
In another case in Howrah district’s Uluberia, a junior woman doctor at the Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay Medical College and Hospital was allegedly molested and threatened with gangrape by relatives of a patient. Police have since arrested three individuals in connection with the assault.
State Moves Toward Safer Medical Spaces
Following these incidents, Banerjee has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making West Bengal’s hospitals safe spaces for all.
The administration’s zero-tolerance stance marks an important step in restoring confidence among patients and healthcare workers.
