Thiruvananthapuram: A huge outrage had followed the killing of Dr. Vandana Das at Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital, when an accused in police custody stabbed the doctor several times with a scissor. Criticisms were raised blaming the inefficiency of the police officers and the security guards present at the hospital.
When it is clear that government hospital premises are prone to attacks and clashes, the appointment to post of security guards are fraught with nepotism and irregularities. Except in Medical College Hospitals, the security guard appointments to all other government hospitals are temporary.
At present, the hospital management committee is conducting the temporary appointments. There is a complaint that these appointments are not following the Government Order of 2021 stipulating that the security guards must be ex-servicemen.
The security lapse at the Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital, where Dr. Vandana was killed had faced severe criticism. The situation of other government hospitals is similar to the Kottarakkara hospital.
It is alleged that in these hospitals the hospital management committee is appointing their favored people, who have no required qualifications, as security guards.
The stipulation that only ex-servicemen must be appointed as security guards is not followed anywhere. In addition, the doctors’ demand that there must be a security force is not implemented.
There is a strong demand for a skillful security force, which are capable to face when attacks occur in hospitals. There is also a demand for a centralized system for the security of hospitals.
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