Punjab’s Health and Family Welfare, and Medical Education and Research Minister, Dr Balbir Singh, affirmed that the Punjab government is fully committed to ensuring the safety of medical professionals in the state.
During a protest at Rajindra Hospital, organised by doctors in solidarity with the nationwide strike against the horrific rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee woman doctor in Kolkata, Singh assured Punjab’s doctors of their safety. Expressing his empathy, the health minister even drew blood from his own finger and marked his apron as a sign of solidarity with the victim.
Referring to the resolution passed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in 2019, Singh advocated for the creation of a central law to protect medical professionals. He pledged to write to the prime minister and the union home minister on this matter and to meet the union health minister to push for a meeting of all state health ministers. The aim is to establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that ensure the safety of medical professionals, with a proposed law that would make any violence against them a non-bailable offense punishable by six years in prison.
The Medical Education and Research Minister also announced an important meeting on Monday with the IMA and the PCMS Association.
He emphasised that the Punjab government will implement stringent measures to prevent any unfortunate incidents involving doctors and paramedics in the healthcare sector.
Singh called for no leniency towards the perpetrators of such heinous crimes and demanded that they be swiftly hanged, sending a strong message across the country. He assured all medical students, their parents, doctors, and other paramedics in Punjab that the government under CM Bhagwant Singh Mann will not compromise on their safety.
The health minister committed to ensuring that doctors can treat patients in a fearless environment and maintain their trust. As a doctor himself, and with a daughter who is also a doctor, Singh understands the hard work involved in the profession. He expressed deep sorrow over the Kolkata incident, extending his heartfelt sympathy to the victim’s family.
Also present at the occasion were Colonel J.V. Singh, Medical College Principal Dr Rajan Singla, Medical Superintendent Dr Girish Sahni, Civil Surgeon Dr Jatinder Kansal, Dr R.P.S. Sibia, Dr S.S. Mann, along with junior and senior residents and medical students.
