NIMS to expedite security staff appointment process

Hyderabad: The administration of Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Panjagutta has decided to expedite the process of appointing 170-odd security personnel in the hospital premises (new and old blocks included).

The e-tender process, which was kept pending for the last three months due to the election code, will be initiated any time after May 24 and private security agencies would be invited to submit bids.

The period of agreement will be for two years and the NIMS administration is planning to complete this process in a month's time so as to ensure the 170 security guards will take positions at different places in the hospital come July.

Following the attack on the medical officer by a patient's attendants on Monday, NIMS administration has decided to take up the security staff appointment on a priority basis.

Also, a request would be made to the government to allot 20-odd SPF (Special Protection Force) so that six armed police could be deployed in each shift near emergency block mainly to avoid untoward incidents on doctors and medical staff.

It may be noted that at present only 80-odd security staff mostly private security guards are doing duties in the NIMS premises spread over 23-acres and having many buildings, with over six lakh sq feet construction area itself.

According to doctors, the shortage of security staff is not helping the situation in times of untoward incidents.

Presence of adequate security would ensure guards intervene in time and ensure physical attacks are averted before the cops arrive at the scene.

Hospital Superintendent Dr Nimma Satyanarayana stated that the 170-odd security personnel that would be appointed in a few weeks time would be sufficient as hospital premises are equipped with CCTV facilities wherever required.

Dr G Srinivas, Convenor of NIMS Resident Doctors Association demanded deployment of SPF personnel in the Emergency department and increasing police constables number in Police Outpost to prevent any attempts of physical attacks on NIMS doctors and medical staff like witnessed on Monday.

Meanwhile, members of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Telangana unit staged a protest at their Koti office against the assault on NIMS doctor.

President Dr B Pratap Reddy, Honorary Secretary Dr Sanjeev Singh and others condemned these incidents and stated that they standby the doctors' fraternity in times of distress.

Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T JUDA) from various teaching hospitals in Telangana also expressed solidarity to NIMS doctors.