Bhubaneswar, April 27: The health department has urged the state government to provide security to doctors in the wake of attacks on them at various government-run medical colleges and hospitals.

The department has also suggested setting up of police outposts at the government-run institutes.

In a letter to the home department, health secretary P.K. Mehedra has recalled that untoward situations are being reported from health care facilities such as the MKCG Medical College in Berhampur, Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Burla, Saheed Lakshman Nayak Medical College in Koraput, Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College in Mayurbhanj, Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar and the Rourkela Government Hospital.

On March 2, a few persons kidnapped a doctor from the Khurda hospital, about 25km from Bhubaneswar, following the death of a 19-month-old child. Later, the police rescued him from Bhubaneswar.

Again on March 27, relatives of a patient attacked doctors at the SCB hospital after the patient died. The patient was undergoing treatment in the TB ward. Later, the doctors went on cease work, demanding adequate security for them.

Durbadala Mishra, additional district medical officer of Sonepur district headquarters hospital, was allegedly killed in September 2014 by an eight-month-old child's uncle, who suspected medical negligence behind the baby's death.

In light of such attacks, the home department has been asked to sanction one police outpost on the premises of each of these (seven) institutions to ensure security of health care service personnel and prevent damage to property of these institutions.

Meherda said that though an outpost had been set up on the SCB Medical College and Hospital premises in Cuttack, security was not adequate in view of the frequent unrest at the medical college. At present, one sub-inspector, two assistant sub-inspectors, one havildar, three women constables and four male constables have been deployed at the outpost.

Keeping in view various health facilities in the premier institutions of the state, the letter has asked for strengthening of the security back-up on the institutions' premises.

Odisha Medical Service Association president Nirkar Bhatt said: "The attack on doctors has become a regular affair. For no fault of the medicos, they are becoming victims of such attacks. Adequate security will instil a sense of confidence among the doctors in discharging their duties."

An association official said that though there was a provision under the Orissa Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2009, to book those who attack doctors, the police hardly follow the act. Under this act, the offender is liable to face three-year imprisonment and a fine up to Rs 50,000.