Striking at the heart of health care

In Health Matters newsletter Ramya Kannan writes about doctor’s rape and murder case at RG Kar hospital in Kolkata

(This week in health, we discuss what has been shaking the State for over a week now: the Kolkata rape and murder case.)

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. While there have been many events of significance in the health sector this week, not least the scare about the rapid spread of MPox, we will nevertheless dedicate this issue of Health Matters to what has been rocking the State for over a week now: the RG Kar rape and murder case. If you have been living under a rock, on August 9, a PG medical student was found dead in the seminar hall of the government medical college in Kolkata, one in which she was working and studying. Later, the post mortem report found greivous injuries and confirmed murder. The incident rocked the nation, shaking it from its foundations. Several medical students came out with as yet untold stories of trials and tribulations of working within the system, since, and over the period of just over a week, it emerged clearly that the R.G.Kar rape and murder were the mere tip of the iceberg, probably an excess so excessive, the rest of the country sat up to take notice. The Hindu has been reporting these events in details, since then, and running a live page for updates on the evolving case. 

The extent of injuries the young doctor had suffered, as per the post mortem report, was nothing short of searing. In what seemed a repeat of the more notorious Nirbhaya case, the violation the young doctor’s body had been subject to, was simply incomprehensible. Even leaving out the gory details behind the story, Shiv Sahay Singh reported: Victim had 10 injuries, death due to throttling and smothering. 

While these were themselves quite appalling, was there another factor that bought people together on the R.G. Kar issue? It could well be argued that one cementing factor could’ve been the glaring lack of facilities for medical interns, residents and PGs on hospital duty, across the country. Soon after the incident, a movement similar to #metoo opened up on social media, with a number of young medicos and even older professionals coming out with tales of abuse while on duty in hospitals. While abuse, sexual or physical, or verbal, by seniors was one thing, the very lack of basic facilities stands out like a sore thumb. In this story, Shrabana Chatterjee, Moyurie Som, Shiv Sahay Singh find out what happened in this particular case. “Many departments do not have designated on-duty rooms for doctors to rest after long hours of work, several doctors said. This leaves them with no choice but to sleep in patient beds, waiting rooms, or, as in this case, empty halls,” they report. The story echoed across the country, as medical students and professionals stepped out on to the streets, demanding safety and security for themselves as they focused on healing others.  

Also remember that the NCW inquiry committee uncovered lapses in security, infrastructure at R.G.Kar hospital. For a further insight into this aspect, do read The Hindu’s edit: Violence, most foul. 

The very latest, as we write this column is the Supreme Court’s intervention on the issue: SC sets up national task force to look into doctors’ safety at workplace. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud was hearing a suo motu case related to the rape and murder of a postgraduate medic at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata amid the ongoing nationwide doctors’ strike over it. It constituted a national task force to look into the modalities that need to be adhered to ensure the safety of medical professionals across the country.  

This will at least appease the IMA and the striking doctors some. On August 17, the Indian Medical Association called for a 24-hour closure of several services from 6 a.m. on August 17. Its actual effectiveness, of course, can be judged only by the impact it has post implementation, but even this small measure was not forthcoming from the government. It may be remembered that the IMA sought for a law to protect health workers, articulated in an open message to the Health ministry. It may be recalled that an earlier proposal, which had moved to draft stage was dropped after the Union government said there was no need for a special law to take care of this. This time, again, the Centre had a similar reply, Bindu Shajan Perappadan reports: No Central law needed for doctors’ protection, says Union government. It argued that all States already had laws in place and that the Centre would provide 25 % more security at its health care institutions. This however, seems like a simplistic way of handling what has become a hot bed of protests, and certainly for something that has evoked so much emotion and fellow feeling, a better response needs to be articulated.  Probably realising how cavalier it sounded, the health ministry went on to state: Committee will be formed to “suggest all possible measures” for ensuring the safety of health care professionals. Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association has also demanded an overhaul of working and living conditions of resident doctors.