Punjab Health Minister Demands Justice for Kolkata Victim, Seeks Stringent Law

Chandigarh, August 19: Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh demanded ₹10 crore ex-gratia from the Centre and West Bengal government for the parents of the Kolkata victim doctor, besides seeking speedy justice and exemplary punishment for the culprits. He also urged the Union government to bring a stringent central law to prevent assault against medical professionals.

Dr. Singh met with representatives of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association, Resident Doctors Association, and Medical & Dental Teachers Association. He assured the agitating doctors that he will write to the Union Health Minister for bringing a central law for prevention of assault against medical professionals.

The Punjab government will ensure the security of all doctors, particularly women healthcare staff. Dr. Singh directed the department officials to constitute District Health Boards to conduct a security audit at all state health institutes. He also asked heads of government health institutes to implement Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) relating to security and infrastructure within 48 hours.

Dr. Singh urged doctors to resume duty, citing the suffering of patients, especially the poor. He assured fulsome support to the healthcare fraternity from the Punjab government.