Indian Medical Association organised a powerful event in the Capital city to mull over the issues of safety of medical professionals.
The IMA National Health Summit centered around the crucial theme of "Violence against Hospitals and Healthcare Professionals." Over 500 Doctors from all over the india, National President Dr Sharad Kumar Agarwal , President Elect Dr RV Asokan, IPP Dr. Sahajanand Prasad Singh, Hony Secretary General Dr Anilkumar J Nayak, Hony Finance Secretary Dr. Shitij Bali , Past Presidents Dr. Vinay Aggarwal, Dr. Rajan Sharma, Dr. J A Jayalal, IMA office bearers with many IMA Leaders physically graced the occasion and many more joined the event virtually, bringing together the collective wisdom and strength of our healthcare community. On this occasion “Delhi Declaration on Violence on Healthcare Personnel and Facilities” were also issued. It was heartening to witness the shared commitment to address and combat the pressing issue of violence faced by hospitals and healthcare professionals. Summit not only fostered insightful discussions but also paved the way for collaborative efforts in finding lasting solutions to ensure the safety and well-being of our healthcare heroes. Together, we are stronger, and events like these play a pivotal role in uniting us for a healthier and safer future.
Indian Medical Association along with AHPI, CAHO, ANBAI and NATHEALTH and the participants of the Health Summit on violence representing stakeholders from healthcare institutions, Government as well as law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, and the general public take exception to violence targeting those who provide essential healthcare services.
Recognizing that violence against healthcare personnel violates their human rights and undermines the well-being of our nation. We commit for collective action involving all sections of the society. In its deceleration, healthcare institutions pledge to implement comprehensive safety protocols, training programs, and reporting mechanisms to protect healthcare personnel. Simultaneously they should foster a culture of respect and empathy for patients. We propose to ameliorate the risk of violence by contributing to an environment conducive to vigilance and safety. The implementation of a system to screen patients and visitors is in order.
Adequate medical, psychological and legal support should be provided to victims of violence. Appropriate reporting systems should be established to enable health care personnel to report anonymously and without reprisal. Aggregated data would be used to analyse the effectiveness of preventative strategies.
(With inputs from agencies)