Kerala Govt Mandates 'Space Audit' in Medical Colleges to Enhance Safety Measures

State Health Minister Veena George has directed the Director of Medical Education to conduct the audit during a high-level meeting with medical college officials.

The Kerala government has initiated a comprehensive 'space audit' across the state's medical colleges in response to widespread protests by healthcare professionals following the rape and murder of a resident doctor in Kolkata.

This move aims to bolster safety measures for medical staff within these institutions.

State Health Minister Veena George has directed the Director of Medical Education to conduct the audit during a high-level meeting with medical college officials.

The audit, part of a broader safety enhancement plan, will be conducted at both the institutional and state levels, overseen by the principals of medical colleges and the Director of Medical Education.

The safety measures ordered by Minister George include conducting mock drills, installing public address systems, CCTVs, alarms, and walkie-talkies, intensifying security monitoring, and prohibiting unauthorized individuals from remaining inside hospitals overnight.

The government emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of female employees returning to hostels after night shifts and called for a collaborative effort with district administrations to protect hospital staff and visitors from stray dog attacks.

Additionally, all medical colleges have been instructed to implement the Code Gray protocol, which is activated in response to aggressive or violent behavior, including that exhibited by patients.

Minister George also noted that various audits—security, fire, electrical, and lift audits—are already being conducted in medical colleges to ensure the safety of both employees and patients.

The directive comes in the wake of widespread protests on August 17, during which non-emergency medical services, including outpatient departments (OPDs), were halted as doctors and nurses across Kerala demonstrated against the Kolkata incident.

The minister also praised hospitals that have proactively ensured safety based on previous audits and emphasized the need to scrutinize specific areas such as duty rooms, examination rooms, and restrooms during the upcoming safety audit.