The NTF’s first meeting is scheduled for Today, August 27, with notable members such as a former Cabinet Secretary and top medical professionals. Medical organizations have been invited to participate in the discussions, as the NTF aims to address vital issues concerning the security and welfare of healthcare workers.
NEW DELHI: Today (27th Aug): The Supreme Court, emphasized the critical nature of doctors’ safety as a national priority, formed a 10-member National Task Force (NTF) on August 20 to establish a protocol for their protection.
This decision follows the recent tragic rape and murder of a trainee doctor in West Bengal, highlighting the urgent need for robust measures to safeguard the medical community across India. The brutal rape and murder of the 31-year-old postgraduate doctor have ignited nationwide outrage and protests, highlighting serious concerns about safety and justice.
The NTF’s first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 27, with notable members such as a former Cabinet Secretary and top medical professionals. Medical organizations have been invited to participate in the discussions, as the NTF aims to address vital issues concerning the security and welfare of healthcare workers.
The court has directed the task force to submit an interim report within three weeks and a final report in two months.
A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud expressed deep concern over the lack of institutional safety norms at medical facilities, especially regarding violence and sexual violence against healthcare workers. While there are existing laws to protect medical professionals, the bench noted that these do not adequately address systemic problems.
The task force will include ex-officio members such as the Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Health Ministry Secretary, Chairperson of the National Medical Commission, and President of the National Board of Examinations.
The task force members include:
- Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General of Medical Services (Navy)
- Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad
- Dr. M. Srinivas, Director, Delhi AIIMS
- Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru
- Dr. Goverdhan Dutt Puri, Executive Director, AIIMS Jodhpur
- Dr. Saumitra Rawat, Chairperson, Institute of Surgical Gastroenterology, GI and HPB Onco-Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi
- Professor Anita Saxena, Vice-Chancellor, Pandit BD Sharma Medical University, Rohtak
- Dr. Pallavi Saple, Dean of Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai
- Dr. Padma Srivastava, former professor of Neurology, AIIMS Delhi
The Supreme Court has instructed the NTF to devise an action plan focusing on two key areas: preventing violence, including gender-based violence against medical professionals, and creating an enforceable national protocol for safe and dignified working conditions for interns, residents, senior residents, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will provide full logistical support, including travel, accommodation, and secretarial assistance for the NTF members. The Government is required to compile and submit data in an affidavit within one month of the order.
