The North News
Shimla, December 30
Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has ordered the constitution of a new committee to re-examine the recent incident at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), stressing that while doctors must be protected, misconduct with patients will not be tolerated. Chairing a meeting of the Health Department late evening yesterday, the Chief Minister said the state government would ensure adequate security for doctors and healthcare staff. At the same time, he underlined that inappropriate behaviour towards patients went against the ethics of the medical profession.
Sukhu directed officials to introduce mandatory courses on human behaviour and management skills for doctors, aimed at improving patient care and professional conduct. He also said the government was considering incorporating parameters related to doctors’ behaviour with patients into their Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs). The Chief Minister said patients or attendants who misbehave with doctors should be reported to senior officials, adding that the government was taking steps to ease pressure on healthcare workers by filling vacant posts.
According to officials, hundreds of posts for doctors and paramedical staff have already been filled, with more recruitments planned in the coming months. The government is also considering incentives for highly qualified doctors to attract more specialists to the public health sector. Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil and senior health department officials attended the meeting.
