Supreme Court Forms Task Force to Address Violence Against Medical Professionals

After a tragic incident at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College, the Supreme Court constituted a 10-member National Task Force to establish guidelines ensuring the safety of medical professionals. The Indian Medical Association lauded this decision and called for further protective legislation.

In response to the tragic rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, the Supreme Court has constituted a 10-member National Task Force to recommend measures for preventing violence against medical professionals. The task force includes prominent names like Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin and Dr. D Nageshwar Reddy.

Padma Awardee and former President of the Dental Medical Council, Dr. Anil Kohli, expressed support for the Supreme Court's decision, emphasizing that medical professionals currently have no safe haven. 'After this horrifying incident, it is a welcome move by the Supreme Court to bring a ten-person national task force. It was the need of the hour,' he stated.

National President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dr. R V Asokan, also praised the decision as a 'very good intervention' and expressed satisfaction that their voices would be heard. The IMA previously wrote to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, urging for the enactment of a central law to prevent violence against medical professionals, noting that existing state regulations have failed to offer adequate protection.

Members of the task force include eminent professionals from across India, such as Dr. M Srinivas from AIIMS Delhi, Dr. Pratima Murthy from NIMHANS Bengaluru, and Professor Anita Saxena, Vice-Chancellor of Pandit B D Sharma Medical University. The task force is required to submit an interim report within three weeks and a final report in two months. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has also directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to update the status of its investigation into the rape case.