HC: Need to increase number of doctors, improve security

The Delhi high court on Friday asked the government why it was not increasing the strength of doctors in its hospitals to improve patient care and lessen the burden on existing doctors.

A bench of acting chief justice Gita Mittal and justice Pratibha M Singh remarked that though the population of the country had increased exponentially, it was lacking in corresponding rise in the number of doctors.

Noting that “doctors were working beyond their capacity,” the bench asked the government to give details of the ideal doctorpatient ratio and the actual ratio in Delhi’s hospitals.

“Why don’t you increase the medical practitioners’ strengths in existing hospitals? There are such wonderful doctors in the country. We have the best medical education where people from other countries come to study,” the bench said, adding it would improve patient care.

The court was hearing a case initiated on its own based on media reports of doctors facing violence by patients or their kin.

“We became concerned when the (AIIMS) doctors said they will learn taekwondo,” the bench said as it directed the authorities to publicise information about various provisions in law that prescribe punishment for violence against doctors.

The bench wanted to know from the authorities about the number of cases they had lodged in cases of violence against doctors and the prosecution.

“We are troubled by the state of affairs — safety and security of medical specialist in hospitals as well as the lack of sufficient experts to provide health care in hospitals,” the bench said.

Earlier, the court had noted from media reports that, “one in two doctors in public hospitals face violence and that there has been an increase in such incidents. It also appears that the violence is not only verbal, but physical.”

The bench had sought a status report on adequate security to doctors, nurses and staff in public hospitals in the capital.

The court has posted the case for further hearing on June 29.