Ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals: A review of current challenges and legal frameworks in India

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Review Article

Author Details : Anmol Mahani*, Rudranath Zadu

Volume : 11, Issue : 4, Year : 2024

Article Page : 152-158

https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijfcm.2024.033

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Abstract

Healthcare professionals, particularly doctors, face significant safety challenges in India. Workplace violence, harassment, inadequate infrastructure, and the absence of appropriate legal protections worsen their vulnerability, especially during night shifts. Recent incidents of violence have drawn attention to the urgent need for reforms to ensure their safety. This review aims to critically evaluate the current safety concerns for doctors in India, analyse the effectiveness of the existing legal frameworks, particularly the newer BNS (Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita) and BNSS (Bhartiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita) systems, and propose practical strategies for improving workplace safety, focusing on night shifts and high-risk environments.This review article synthesises data from multiple sources, including published surveys, legal reports, and recent studies on workplace safety for healthcare professionals in India. The literature review focused on legal frameworks, hospital infrastructure, and psychosocial impacts affecting doctors. Inclusion criteria for the review included studies and reports on workplace safety, particularly those relevant to night shifts, emergency departments, and rural healthcare settings. Exclusion criteria included articles not directly addressing the safety concerns of healthcare professionals or those focused exclusively on non-clinical staff. The review revealed that over one-third of Indian doctors' report feeling unsafe during night shifts, with female doctors and junior staff particularly vulnerable. Key factors influencing perceptions of safety included inadequate security, lack of duty rooms, and insufficient legal enforcement under the Central Protection Act. The implementation of the BNS and BNSS systems is promising, but enforcement stays inconsistent across regions. Psychosocial impacts, including anxiety and burnout, were common, leading to lower job satisfaction and compromised care quality.Addressing the safety concerns of doctors in India requires a comprehensive approach, including stronger enforcement of legal protections under the BNS and BNSS systems, improved hospital infrastructure, and targeted psychosocial support. Future reforms should prioritise the establishment of secure environments and more robust legal accountability to mitigate workplace violence.
 

Keywords: Workplace safety, Doctors, Healthcare violence, Legal frameworks, Indian medical laws, Occupational safety, Harassment, and protective measures

How to cite : Mahani A, Zadu R, Ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals: A review of current challenges and legal frameworks in India. Indian J Forensic Community Med 2024;11(4):152-158

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