Rohit Shishodia
The long standing demand of doctors that hospitals should file institutional FIRs against persons involved in violence against doctors has finally been fulfilled by the Delhi government.

Principal Health Secretary Sanjeev Khirwar, in a circular issued on April 16, 2019, has directed all HODs of hospitals and medical institutions that in case of any incident involving abuse or violence by the patients or their attendants an FIR/complaint is required to be filed by the concerned hospital and institution immediately.

“In no case, the individual doctor, para-medical, nursing and administrative staff should be asked to lodge their FIR or complaint with police in such cases. It will be incumbent on MS or Director of the institution to ensure that an FIR is lodged in such cases promptly by the hospital or institution concerned rather than insisting on the concerned staff to lodge the FIR. Non-compliance of the directions will be viewed seriously,” reads the circular.

Federation of Resident Doctors Association-India has expressed happiness over the move by the Delhi government. The doctors body said that it is an achievement for them for which they met senior health officials many times.