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Around a month after P.T. Vipin, a medical officer attached to the Government Taluk Hospital, Thamarassery, Kozhikode, was grievously attacked by the father of a girl who died of amoebic meningoencephalitis, on October 8, government hospitals in Kerala are yet to see any perceptible change in terms of security measures. Functionaries of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) said here on Thursday that though the government amended the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, rules were yet to be framed to implement it. V.G. Pradeep Kumar, former State president, IMA, pointed out that government hospitals were yet to get fool-proof security systems. There had been no control over the entry of bystanders and others who accompany patients to hospitals. Though the amended Act called for a time-frame to complete investigations into attacks on health workers, it was yet to be put in place properly, Dr. Pradeep Kumar said. This, among other issues concerning the health sector in the State, would be discussed at the two-day IMA State conference to be held at Marina Convention Centre, Feroke, Kozhikode, from November 8, the IMA functionaries said. The State council meeting would be held on the first day. This would be followed by panel discussions on topics such as amoebic meningoencephalitis, liver transplantation, and diabetic foot syndrome, among others. Health Minister Veena George would formally inaugurate the State conference on November 9. IMA national president Dilip P. Bhanushali, and State president K.A. Sreevilasan, among others, would be present. New State functionaries would be chosen thereafter.
