200 security personnel to guard PMCH

PATNA: Keeping in mind frequent clashes between junior doctors and attendants, the state health department has decided to increase the number of security personnel at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) to 200 from the existing 70.

After members of the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA) went on a two-day strike in November last year to protest “attack” on their colleagues in the emergency ward of PMCH, a four-member committee constituted by the health department visited the state’s premier hospital to review security arrangements. Acting on the committee’s recommendations, the health department posted 50 home guards and 10 Bihar Military Police personnel at the hospital apart from the 70 permanent security guards.

An interview was conducted Tuesday divisional commissioner Anand Kishor, PMCH incharge superintendent Dr Deepak Tandon and incharge principal Dr Vijay Kumar Gupta on Tuesday for the selection of a chief security officer (CSO). “The security officer is yet to be selected as some of the candidates did not turn up in the interview,” Dr Tandon said.

JDA president Dr Vinay Kumar said the main demand of the junior doctors was appointment of a CSO who would coordinate with other security personnel. “The second demand was installation of an alarm system, which is yet to be fulfilled,” Dr Kumar said.