The hospital-patient protection law would soon come into effect, said Minister for Health P. K. Sreemathy, here on Sunday.
Speaking at the inauguration of a new block at the District General Hospital, the Minister said the department had taken the incidents that happened here last week very seriously and an enquiry was on in this regard.
The simultaneous occurrence of an alcohol addict patient killing another patient and the violence against the hospital staff the next day had left the hospital staff and the authorities in a fix.
The Minister said that when the hospital had enough number of nurses and other para-medical staff, the violent behaviour of the patient could have been brought to the notice of authorities sooner.
On bystanders assaulting doctors and other staff, the Minister said the public could not sit in judgement over medical personnel and take the law into their hands. There is a procedure to lodge a complaint if the services in the hospital are found wanting.
The staff at the hospital submitted a memorandum to the Minister for seeking early passing of the hospital protection bill, citing the recent events at the hospital.
The memorandum appealed for a safer environment for the staff.
Nursing college opened
A new nursing college for post-basic nursing course was inaugurated at Thripunithura by Ms. Sreemathy.
The college, housed in the newly renovated building of the Thripunithura Health and Family Welfare Training Centre, was built using Rs. 69 lakh received from the National Rural Health Mission. It would be taking in students who have completed the course in general nursing. The two-year course would be equivalent to B.Sc. Nursing course.
The State Institute of Medical Education and Technology would be running the course and would take in 30 students in a batch.
At the function, K. Babu, MLA, presided. Vice-chairman of Thripunithura Municipal Council, B. S. Nandanan; Opposition leader R. Venugopal and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
