BMC falls back on private security for civic hospitals

Concerned about the incidents of attacks on doctors at civic-run hospitals, the BMC has decided to provide security personnel to these hospitals. The cost of this project has been estimated at Rs8.28 crore. Various civic hospitals lack enough security, not only for the doctors but also to safeguard hospital properties. As there are a number of posts for security guards lying vacant, the security department of BMC has decided to appoint 500 personnel on a contract basis from private security agencies.  

According the civic authority, they are not able to appoint the guards on a regular basis as the recruiting and training process will take more than one year.

There have been several incidents of relatives of patients getting physical with resident doctors. The current security system is very poor to check any violence in hospital premises. Taking these issues into consideration and despite the high price of appointing private security guards, the civic body has made a move to sign a contract. 

Crystal Integrated Services has been finalised for supply of the guards. “After the final approval from the standing committee, the department will appoint the private guards. This will help curb attacks on doctors,” said a civic official.  

Civic standing committee chairman Rahul Shevale said: “The BMC also has a plan to rope in ex-defence personnel for security of hospitals. But this will be deliberated upon only after reviewing the private service.”

The BMC is also mulling over a proposal to get the existing guards to train under a paramilitary agency. “Rather than increasing the number of guards in hospitals, the civic body should make the security system more effective,” said a doctor from KEM Hospital. 

On September 8, relatives of a patient ransacked the VN Desai Hospital after the death their near one. In another attack in Shatabdi Hospital, relatives assaulted Dr Ketan Fariyad. Dr Tushar Dhakate was attacked after the death of a patient in KEM Hospital on August 24. JJ had become the target in February.