The rape of a lady doctor at the doctors’ quarters of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital on Monday night (10) has shone a spotlight on safety and security within our public health sector, an issue, which has often been overlooked despite multiple complaints made in the past. While the actions of the law enforcement authorities to quickly nab the suspect who allegedly committed the heinous crime is praiseworthy, we must ask the question, why wasn’t anything done before to reduce the risk of such attacks or prevent them? The warning signs had been there, but the hospital administration had not addressed them effectively.

Yesterday, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), which has woken up from its slumber on the matter, called for a long-term comprehensive mechanism to ensure the safety of resident doctors and healthcare staff. It is learnt that they have had discussions with authorities regarding the matter. The GMOA had included recommendations about health staff safety and security in their proposals put forward during the Covid-19 pandemic period. However, their approach to raising the visibility of the issue or calling attention to it took a back seat compared to the myriad salary and benefits-related issues they prioritised for trade union action.

The issues faced are many, be it poor access control and lack of an effective perimeter, poor lighting, and the fact that most hospitals, especially ones in the rural areas of more than four or five years old, with deteriorating structures and facilities. In the case of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, sources told The Daily Morning that the institution had many vulnerabilities. Amongst them is a long and porous perimeter, which any offender can gain access through easily. Adding to these concerns, several night eateries/restaurants which stay open on the road that runs between the main structure attract drunks and drug abusers who gather to grab a bite in the dark hours of the evening.

“Some of our medical officers and resident doctors have to cross the road in full view of those who gather at these night eateries. There is very poor lighting across the entire hospital complex. Many of us use the torch on our mobile phone to see the path ahead of us when we move between the three main structures. The staff had complained to the hospital administration multiple times, but no action was taken,” one staff member told The Daily Morning. It is learnt that while there is a Police post, it is frequently not manned at night, and there are no roaming patrols by the Police or security guards. “Many of the quarters and rooms are so old and derelict that someone can kick them down and enter our accommodation areas. Also, the main buildings are far apart so, sometimes no one may hear what’s happening in the other. Lighting, lockable doors and windows are lacking and someone has to stand in guard. We have raised these issues before, but nothing has happened,” they lamented, adding that many were still in shock and afraid to move about alone at night. The lack of CCTV and any form of visible on-site security are also serious vulnerabilities at the hospital.

It is clear that this situation has happened and can happen in many hospitals across the island. As such, the issues encountered cannot be resolved with a one-size-fits-all solution. First, hospital staff, the public, hospital administrators, the Health Ministry and law enforcement authorities must understand that ‘security is everyone’s business’. Given what’s happened, one must ask why the Government has not called for an islandwide health sector security audit from the Police.  There should be awareness programmes conducted for the staff of the hospitals about safety and security. All hospitals ought to have a periodically-reviewed security plan, which is crafted to design out risk, where possible and practical. In this day and age, shouldn’t CCTV for the hospital premises be a mandatory feature? The Government and local government authorities should act swiftly to address such vulnerabilities in our public health system before another breach occurs. Hospitals are supposed to be a place where you take refuge and seek help, they should not be a place where patients and medical staff feel vulnerable and live in fear.