Mumbai: Calls for Stronger Protection for Healthcare Workers After Assault
The recent assault on doctors by Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre at the Shastri Nagar Municipal Hospital in Dombivli has sparked renewed demands for better legal protection for healthcare workers. In response, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) released an interactive digital grid documenting 100 instances of violence against doctors reported across the nation in recent years.
This initiative highlights a troubling trend, as violence against healthcare workers has become a pressing global health issue. A review published in a medical journal showed alarming rates of workplace violence against doctors, with 91% of healthcare workers in Germany, 90% in China, and 77.3% in India facing such incidents at least once in their careers.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 40% of healthcare professionals experience physical violence during their working years. Including verbal abuse, this figure jumps to over 60%. The root causes of these attacks are similar worldwide—issues like overcrowded hospitals, understaffing, long wait times, poor communication, and unrealistic patient expectations are common triggers.
Dr. Santosh Kadam, a former state IMA chief, pointed out that our society’s growing impatience is a significant factor. “Everyone wants quick results. People invest their money and expect complete success,” he stated.
Experts emphasize that tough laws alone won’t fix the problem. A multi-faceted approach is necessary, including investing in healthcare, enforcing existing laws better, improving doctor-patient communication, and running awareness campaigns. In many European countries, March 12 is observed as a day to raise awareness about violence against healthcare professionals.
In India, while 19 states have introduced laws to safeguard healthcare workers, attacks continue. Dr. Suhas Pingle, a former member of the Maharashtra Medical Council, stated, “What we really need is a single national law to address this issue effectively.”
In Maharashtra alone, 738 cases were filed under a specific act to protect healthcare workers from 2010 to 2021, but only four resulted in convictions. In contrast, countries like Spain have seen assaults decrease significantly after classifying them as crimes against the state. Singapore imposes stiff penalties for those who abuse healthcare staff, including hefty fines and possible jail time.
Dr. Kadam noted that the scale of abuse against doctors is likely much larger than official numbers suggest. Dr. Pingle added that with a mere 2% of the budget allocated for healthcare, doctors are pressed to see hundreds of patients in short intervals, creating conditions ripe for violence.
