SC Criticizes NTF for Delayed Progress on Health Professional Safety

The court stressed the importance of expediting the task force’s work and ensuring that regular meetings are held to move the initiative forward.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed its dissatisfaction with the slow pace of progress made by the National Task Force (NTF), which was established to create a protocol aimed at ensuring the safety and security of doctors and other healthcare professionals across the country.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, expressed concern over the NTF's inactivity, particularly after its first meeting on August 27, 2024.

During the August 27 meeting, the NTF established four sub-groups to address key areas, such as improving the infrastructure of medical institutions, strengthening security systems, revamping the working conditions of healthcare professionals, and enhancing the legal framework to protect medical staff across all states.

Despite these early steps, the Supreme Court was surprised to learn that no further meetings had been held since September 9, 2024.

Supreme Court Calls for Urgency

The Supreme Court bench questioned the delay, stating, “What has the task force done after September 9? Why (is there) no meeting after September 9? Why is there no progress? It must expedite the work.”

The court stressed the importance of expediting the task force’s work and ensuring that regular meetings are held to move the initiative forward.

Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, who represented the Centre, assured the court that the NTF's responsibilities were extensive but vital for providing a long-term solution to the issues faced by healthcare professionals.

He acknowledged that no significant progress had been made since early September but assured the court that the NTF would accelerate its efforts.

An affidavit was submitted outlining the steps taken by the task force so far, though the court found the progress unsatisfactory.

Union of India Urged to Take Proactive Steps

The Supreme Court noted that the NTF and its sub-groups appeared to have made little progress on the directives outlined by the court.

The bench urged the Union of India to take proactive measures to ensure that the task force's work is completed within a reasonable period.

"We are of the view that the Union of India must take proactive efforts to ensure that the task of the task force is completed within a reasonable period in the future,” the bench observed.

The court also emphasized that NTF meetings should be held regularly to maintain momentum.

It is essential for the task force to formulate a comprehensive action plan that addresses the safety and working conditions of healthcare professionals nationwide.

Background

The Supreme Court had constituted the NTF on August 20, 2024, in response to the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata.

The task force was tasked with addressing the urgent need to protect medical professionals from violence and create a safe working environment.

The NTF members include distinguished medical professionals such as Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General of Medical Services (Navy); Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad; and Dr M Srinivas, Director of AIIMS Delhi, among others.

Additionally, the task force features experts including Dr Pratima Murthy, Director of NIMHANS Bengaluru, and Dr Goverdhan Dutt Puri, Executive Director of AIIMS Jodhpur.

Other prominent members include Professor Anita Saxena, Vice-Chancellor of Pandit B.D Sharma Medical University, Rohtak; Dr Pallavi Saple, Dean of Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai; and Dr Padma Srivastava, former Professor at AIIMS Delhi.

The Union cabinet secretary, the home secretary, the Ministry of Health secretary, the chairperson of the National Medical Commission, and the president of the National Board of Examinations were also directed to be ex-officio members of the task force.

Key Objectives of the National Task Force

The NTF was given the mandate to formulate an action plan focused on two main areas: preventing violence, including gender-based violence, against medical professionals, and providing a national protocol for dignified and safe working conditions for all medical staff, including interns, residents, senior doctors, and nurses.

The task force was granted the liberty to make recommendations on any additional aspects they considered relevant to the safety and security of healthcare professionals.

The court also directed the NTF to propose suitable timelines for implementing these recommendations, based on the existing facilities in hospitals.

Union Health Ministry Tasked with Providing Support

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was directed to provide all necessary logistical support to the task force members, including travel arrangements, accommodation, and secretarial assistance. The Ministry is also responsible for covering the expenses incurred by the NTF.

In addition to this, the Supreme Court instructed all state governments and the Ministry of Health to gather data on the number of security personnel deployed in government-run hospitals.

The purpose of this exercise is to assess the screening mechanisms and evaluate the state of facilities such as resting and duty rooms for doctors, in order to determine the current level of safety and security at these hospitals.

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