Doctors Report Alarming Safety Concerns During Night Shifts: IMA Survey

A significant proportion of doctors, mainly women, reported feeling unsafe during night shifts in a recent Indian Medical Association (IMA) survey. The study, which included 3,885 respondents, highlighted the lack of adequate duty rooms, security personnel, and other safety measures in healthcare settings.

A recent study by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has revealed alarming safety concerns among doctors during night shifts. The survey, which included 3,885 doctors, showed that one-third of the respondents, majority being women, felt unsafe, with some even considering carrying weapons for self-defense.

A significant 45% of the respondents reported the unavailability of duty rooms during night shifts. Those who had access often found them overcrowded, lacking in privacy, or without basic amenities such as attached bathrooms. The study, the largest of its kind in India, underscores the urgent need for improvements in healthcare infrastructure.

Suggestions to enhance safety included better lighting, more security personnel, installation of CCTV cameras, and ensuring secure duty rooms. The IMA emphasized the need for a Central Protection Act to standardize security measures across healthcare settings. The Supreme Court has assured that the concerns are being taken seriously.

(With inputs from agencies.)