Bengal government issues directives for healthcare professionals

NEW DELHI: The West Bengal government on Thursday issued a list of directives aimed towards the safety, security and efficient functioning of healthcare professionals on Thursday, mentioning that the list needs to be implemented immediately.

These directives were issued a day after the meeting of the government and the agitating junior doctors over the same issues.

Chief Secretary Manoj Pant directed Principal Secretary (Health) NS Nigam to ensure "adequate availability of on-duty rooms, washrooms, CCTVs, and drinking water facilities" in healthcare facilities.

One of these directives mentioned that actions regarding the issues must be taken at the earliest convenience. The directive came hours after the junior doctors submitted to Pant a draft of the key points of their meeting with the West Bengal government last night and were awaiting the state's response.

It also revealed that the state has appointed former DGP Surajit Kar Purkayastha to conduct security audits of all medical colleges and hospitals.