Workplace Safety Concerns Among Healthcare Workers

In October 2024, a recent survey titled "Workplace Safety and Security in Indian Healthcare Settings" highlighted significant safety and security concerns among healthcare workers in India, particularly in government-run medical colleges, with a majority expressing dissatisfaction with existing infrastructure.

Key Points

Feeling of Insecurity: Over 58% of healthcare workers felt unsafe in their workplace, and 78.4% reported being threatened on duty, particularly in government institutions.
Inadequate Security Measures: Over 70% of respondents found security personnel ineffective, and 62% criticized the emergency alarm system. Severe gaps were noted in surveillance and security, especially in high-risk areas like ICUs and psychiatric wards.
Lack of Amenities: Nearly half of the respondents lacked dedicated duty rooms, and existing rooms were insufficient, lacking basic amenities like regular cleaning and air conditioning.
Public and Private Institutions: Dissatisfaction was notably higher in state government colleges, where over 63% criticized the lack of security personnel, and dissatisfaction with emergency alarms and access control was 3.5 times higher compared to private institutions.
Incidents of Violence: An alarming 81.3% reported witnessing violence, yet nearly half felt these incidents were poorly handled. Moreover, 80% didn’t know whom to contact in case of emergencies.
Recommendations: The study suggests strengthening security in high-risk areas, increasing security personnel, improving duty room conditions, and creating clear violence-handling protocols. Regular security training and legal frameworks were also proposed.