Doctor Security in India: The Urgent Need for Protection

(General Studies II – Governance Section – Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.)

• The recent rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata has ignited nationwide protests, bringing urgent attention to the security of medical professionals in India.
• This tragic incident has not only highlighted the pervasive threat of violence against doctors but also underscored the pressing need for stronger legal protections and systemic reforms to ensure their safety in the workplace.

Types of Threats faced by doctors –

1.  Violence Against Doctors: Violence against medical practitioners in India has become alarmingly common. This includes:

• Telephonic Threats: Doctors often receive threatening calls, especially in high-stress environments like emergency departments.
• Intimidation and Verbal Abuse: Many doctors face intimidation from patients and their families, which can escalate into verbal confrontations.
• Physical Assault: Instances of physical violence range from non-injurious assaults to severe attacks leading to injuries or even murder. Reports indicate that doctors have been attacked in hospitals, and some have even lost their lives due to patient grievances or perceived negligence.
• Systemic Challenges: The healthcare system in India is fraught with issues that contribute to the precarious position of doctors:

• Poor Infrastructure: Many government hospitals suffer from inadequate facilities and staffing, leading to overwhelming patient loads. This environment can foster frustration among patients, which may result in violence against healthcare providers.
• High Patient Load: With a doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:1,500 in India, doctors are often overworked, which can lead to burnout and increased vulnerability to threats from dissatisfied patients.
• Lack of Security: Many healthcare facilities lack adequate security measures, making it easier for violent incidents to occur without consequence.
• Ethical and Professional Pressures: Doctors also grapple with ethical dilemmas and pressures that can threaten their professional integrity:

• Pressure from Institutions: In corporate healthcare settings, there is often a focus on profit over patient care, which can lead doctors to compromise their ethical standards. This environment can create tension between the doctors’ professional ethics and institutional demands.
• Legal and Media Scrutiny: Doctors frequently face legal threats and public scrutiny, especially in cases of alleged medical negligence. Sensational media coverage can exacerbate this issue, leading to a public perception that vilifies medical professionals, regardless of the circumstances.
• Mental Health Strain: The cumulative effect of these threats has led to significant mental health challenges for doctors, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. Many doctors report feeling unsafe and underappreciated, which can affect their performance and patient care
• Issues Faced by Women in the Medical Profession in India
• Gender Disparity in Medical Education and Workforce: Despite an increase in female medical students, gender disparity persists. For example, in the 2023-24 academic year in Maharashtra, only 73 out of 193 super-specialist doctors were women, highlighting ongoing imbalances in specialties.
• Cultural and Social Barriers: Cultural expectations often compel women to prioritize family over their careers, leading to a lack of support for pursuing advanced training.
• Workplace Environment and Stereotyping: Women face a challenging workplace environment characterized by stereotyping and systemic biases.
• Safety Concerns: Safety issues, particularly for those working night shifts, limit opportunities for women in medicine. Concerns about personal safety can deter them from certain roles, affecting their career choices.

The Kolkata incident underscores the dual threat faced by doctors in India—both as targets of violence and as overworked professionals in a system lacking adequate safeguards. Beyond legal protections, there is an urgent need for broader gender sensitization across society.

Addressing the deeply rooted issues of patriarchy and discrimination is essential to creating a safer and more equitable environment, not just for healthcare professionals, but for all women in India. Without this cultural shift, legal measures alone will not be sufficient to prevent such tragedies in the future.