At least 60 incidents of violence at Punjab's public health facilities in a year; docs remind AAP govt of 'unfulfilled' promise to deploy security
Amidst this, demanding adequate security arrangements at the earliest, the Association on Saturday wrote a fresh letter to Punjab Health Secretary Kumal Rahul, stating the AAP-led 'state government is yet to fulfil its promise of deploying security personnel at government health facilities on August 19, 2024, for the safety of health workers. Doctors expect the promise will now be fulfilled by August 19 this year.'
Criticising the state government, Association president Dr Akhil Sarin said even as it was announced during a press conference on August 19, 2024, that 'security personnel would be deployed at public healthcare facilities 24X7', followed by a 'written assurance' by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on September 11, 2024, 'the promise remains unfulfilled'.
Further highlighting the surge in violence at public healthcare facilities, the Association emphasised the 'lack of security', particularly in rural areas, leaving woman doctors vulnerable during night duties. This lack of security is also cited as a factor contributing to high attrition rates among health workers.
'The incidents of extreme violence have shaken the cadre to the core, but we are still performing our duties with utmost dedication. It is high time for the government to fulfil its promise and provide adequate security to healthcare staff. The PCMS cadre is the only cadre involved in high-risk activities — on ground 24X7 duty in medico-legal tests, which also involves examining criminal elements and getting exposed to anti-social elements in the society… We hope the government, which claims to bring 'Sehat Kranti' (health revolution) in the state, will solve such basic issues, instead of making us beg to save our lives,' Dr Sarin said, adding representatives of the Association are also set to meet the Punjab Health Secretary in Chandigarh on Monday — to discuss the security issue.
According to district-wise data compiled by the Association, at least six of the total incidents of extreme violence against doctors and medical staff were reported from Amritsar, five each (Pathankot and Hoshiarpur), four each (Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Muktsar, Moga), three each (Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, SBS Nagar, Mohali, Bathinda, and Patiala), two each (Tarn Taran, Sangrur, Malerkotla, and Ferozepur), and one each (Ropar, and Barnala).
Mentioning such incidents in the letter, the Association stated a 'terrifying incident' recently reported from Talwandi Sabo sub-divisional hospital (SDH), where a patient attacked a healthcare worker on-duty with a sharp-edged weapon, injuring him severely. In June 2025, another patient fired gunshots inside the emergency ward of the Kartarpur Community Health Centre (CHC). At Sultanpur Lodhi SDH, two parties had a violent face-off, following which a doctor on-duty and the staff were forced to flee and lock themselves inside the building. Similar incidents were reported from public healthcare facilities in Jagraon, Zira, Dera Bassi, Hoshiarpur, and Gurdaspur among others, the letter read.
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