What are the reasons for such repeated acts of violence, what are the immediate measures required to prevent such acts and what are the long term solutions to ameliorate the situation?

When death of a near and dear occurs there can be an emotional outburst. This does not in any way mean that persons should resort to violence. There are several ways to redress the grievances. One must realize that the state hospitals lack infrastructure and good governance. In most of the state run hospitals the young doctors are over worked. Sometimes they have to work continuously for up to 36 hours or more. This puts them under lot of stress and strain. These young doctors do not have time to explain the seriousness of the condition of the patient to the attendants in details. In the absence of a senior colleague there is a trust deficit which becomes an irritating point for the attendants. Whatever the reason, the society has to understand that those giving treatment are trained to heal, not to kill. As medical students they are taught to be modest and sympathetic. Error is human. Barring a few black sheep negligence is not a rule but an exception. As negligence cannot be condoned, neither is the violence as a reaction to it justified.

A national level law against violence on doctors can be a strong deterrent. But many a times those perpetrating violence are ignorant of laws. Such a law may reduce the number of incidents but will not put an end to it completely. Despite such a law, the state of Maharashtra has been witnessing such violent attacks. For violence to come down substantially there is need to strengthen the doctor patient relationship. It is a very pious one based on faith on each other. The society has to realize that there are limitations for doctors. Our health care facilities in state sector lack required infrastructure. With a meager 1.1% of the GDP spending on health in the public sector, the working conditions are not going to improve. Such issues must be shared by the doctors with the public. This will integrate them with the society.

Many doctors live in a shell without mixing with the common man. The doctors must react to the patients’ concerns. Unfortunately not many medical bodies have reacted to deaths in Muzaffarpur, nor did they do at the time of deaths in Gorakhur. Such preventable deaths are a slur contour healthcare delivery system. Such issues should be our primary concerns. Medicos should be in the front rows to help the needy in the event of natural calamities. Such gestures help to remove negative feelings in the society about medical professionals.

Medicine is a passion and service. Not denying the fact that a doctor has to earn, the medical profession cannot be made ruthless profit making commercial business as it has become after the entry of corporate sector which view it as a means to reap huge profits. This is failure of the state. Vast majority of our population cannot afford treatment in private sector and have therefore to depend on state sector only.

Because of poor spending on health by the government the patients have to shelve money from their pockets. Nearly 40% of the patients have to borrow for their treatment. No wonder 6.3 crore people of our country are pushed below poverty line because of out of pocket expenditure on healthcare. High cost of treatment in the private sector, particularly in the corporate hospitals has even started affecting the middle classes. There is urgent need to make an inclusive healthcare policy.

Somehow violence is becoming a culture in our country. Calling ourselves followers of Buddha, Guru Nanak and Gandhi we have seen violence to the extreme in 1984, 2002 and now in the form of vigilantes and mob lynching. Some of the law makers have been issuing very irresponsible statements in past and rewarding those involved in mob lynching. Those at the helms of affairs should show more responsible behavior. If violence is eulogized then it becomes a part of psyche which does not spare anyone, even the perpetrators.(IPA Service)