Govt Asks Head Of Hospitals To File FIR Within 6 Hours In Case Of Violence Against Healthcare Workers

New Delhi: The Health Ministry announced on Friday that heads of health institutions must file an FIR within six hours if a healthcare worker is assaulted while on duty. This directive comes amid growing protests across India over the alleged rape and murder of a female trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for a 24-hour nationwide strike, suspending non-emergency and OPD services. Protests have intensified, with more medical professionals from both public and private sectors demanding justice for the victim and the introduction of a central law to protect healthcare workers.

In Delhi, non-emergency and OPD services were disrupted for the fifth consecutive day at major hospitals, including AIIMS and Safdarjung. A group of doctors also staged a sit-in outside Nirman Bhawan, which houses the Union Health Ministry.

Resident doctors in several cities organised protest marches.

Meanwhile, Kolkata police have arrested 25 individuals in connection with the violence and vandalism at the hospital, where students have been protesting since August 9.

IMA chief Dr. R V Asokan criticised the Health Ministry’s decision to form a panel for discussing a central law to protect healthcare workers, calling it “too little and too late.” He noted that a draft bill was prepared in 2019 after consultations but never reached Parliament, emphasising that it only requires political will to enact.

An official memorandum from the Health Ministry instructed central government hospitals and medical colleges to ensure that institutional FIRs are filed within six hours of any violence against healthcare staff. The memo also highlighted the rising trend of violence against doctors and healthcare workers in government hospitals.