A high-level security review meeting convened at Nabanna, the state secretariat in Kolkata, on Friday to address escalating concerns over women’s safety in West Bengal’s government hospitals. Chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and attended by principals of all medical colleges, the session included the Director General of Police, Home Secretary, Health Secretary, and Kolkata Police Commissioner. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee participated via telephone. The urgent gathering followed two disturbing incidents this week—a minor’s rape at SSKM Hospital and the assault of a junior doctor in Howrah—exposing critical vulnerabilities in hospital security protocols.

The meeting prioritised fortified measures for high-footfall medical colleges, mandatory police verification of all contractual staff, and strict restrictions on entry for non-government personnel. Authorities directed immediate installation of additional CCTV cameras, enhanced night patrols, and deployment of dedicated women security personnel in sensitive areas. The state health department was instructed to expedite background checks for over 15,000 contractual employees across medical institutions. Hospitals were also mandated to establish rapid-response teams and grievance cells for immediate reporting of harassment or threats, aiming to restore public confidence in healthcare facilities.

The catalyst for the review was Wednesday’s horrific assault at Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial (SSKM) Hospital, Kolkata’s premier postgraduate facility. A minor, accompanied by her mother for treatment, was lured into a toilet and raped by Amit Mallick, a former Group D employee of Shambhu Nath Pandit Hospital. Mallick allegedly impersonated a doctor to gain the victim’s trust. Kolkata Police arrested him within hours after analysing CCTV footage and conducting raids. The Commissioner personally inspected the premises, ordering a thorough audit of access controls. Separately, in Howrah, a junior doctor at Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay Medical College was physically assaulted and threatened on Monday by a patient’s relatives, including a traffic home guard claiming police connections. Three individuals were arrested following her FIR.

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These incidents have intensified scrutiny of hospital safety amid a spate of violence against healthcare workers and patients in West Bengal. Junior doctors have protested lapses in infrastructure and enforcement, demanding implementation of the 2019 Supreme Court guidelines on hospital security. The state government assured swift compliance, with plans to integrate biometric entry systems and 24/7 control rooms. Women’s rights groups welcomed the directives but called for sustained monitoring and gender-sensitive training for security staff. As investigations continue, the administration faces mounting pressure to translate emergency measures into lasting reforms, ensuring hospitals remain safe sanctuaries rather than sites of trauma.

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