File FIR within six hours of violence: Government to hospitals

New Delhi: The Union health ministry has directed the heads of government hospitals across the country to file an institutional First Information Report (FIR) within six hours of any incident of violence.

"In the event of any violence against any health care worker while on duty, the Head of Institution shall be responsible for filing an Institutional FIR within a maximum of 6 hours of the incident," the directive, issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said on Friday.

The move follows nationwide protests by doctors triggered by the recent rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata's R G Kar Medical Hospital.


"Recently, it has been observed that violence has become common against doctors and other healthcare staff in government hospitals. A number of health workers suffer physical violence during the course of their duty. Many are threatened or exposed to verbal aggression. Most of this violence is done by either the patient or the patient's attendants," said the DGHS. The OM has been shared with all government hospitals and premier institutes of the country like AIIMS, among others.