Itanagar, Nov 19: In the wake of the gruesome attack at a Seppa hospital where a man wielding a machete went on a rampage and killed four people and injured several others, Home Minister held a meeting with top officials to review security in hospitals across the state.
Home Minister Mama Natung on Tuesday chaired the security audit meeting to discuss enhancement of security in the hospitals and other medical facilities in the state and provision of safer working environment for all healthcare workers. 
Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Biyuram Wahge co-chaired the meeting which was attended by Director General of Police Anand Mohan, Commissioner Health &FW Pawan Kumar Sain, Ms Ira Singhal, Secretary (Health & Family Welfare), Link Officer for Principal Secy Home & ISBA Nyali Ete, & Deputy Secy Home Likha Sampu. 
Taking note of the serious unfortunate incident at Seppa and the Supreme Court directives, Natung stressed the importance of a co-ordinated effort by all agencies in ensuring safety and security of all health personnel and patients in the state. He expressed the commitment of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh on taking up immediate remedial measures to ramp up the security system of the health facilities in the state. 
In this regard, the Health Minister stated that a thorough security plan for hospitals will be prepared involving the police department. This will help in controlling the entry and exit points within the hospitals and its premises. It was decided that security issues within the hospital and its premises shall be enforced by security personnel hired from private security agencies by the health department. The training of these private security personnel will be provided by the Police Department.
To boost security, CCTV cameras will be installed by Health department in all hospitals which will be constantly monitored at the data room and in the police control rooms. Identity of the people entering and exiting the hospital will be established by installing biometric system the entry of which shall be made mandatory for all medical staff. In addition, measures such as wearing of appropriate uniform, name plates/tags by the hospital staff shall also be made mandatory. Visitor pass shall be issued and made mandatory to be produced for visiting the hospitals in the specific time frame provided by the hospital authorities.
For overall security, boundary walls shall be constructed around all the six general hospitals in the state. Furthermore, police booths will be installed all these locations to ensure swift action in case of emergency. Continuous patrolling will also be ensured by SPs of the district at all these locations specially during high footfall hours. All DCs shall be asked to issue orders prohibiting carrying of weapons including local dao (machete) in all public buildings. 
The meeting ended with all attendees confirming their firm commitment to providing a safe working environment for all health personnel and to ensure security of all patients within the hospitals of the state.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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