Cabinet Secretary to head NTF on Medical Professionals Safety
Committee and Commission
4 min read
The Ministry of Health and Family Affairs, Government of India, has issued an office order on the constitution of the 14-member National Task Force formed by the Supreme Court on 20 August 2024 for the safety of medical professionals.
The office order issued by the ministry on 21 August 2024 appoints Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba as the Chairperson of the National Task Force.
On 9 August 2024, a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. Following widespread protests by doctors nationwide, the Supreme Court suo motto started hearing the case.
The three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, Justice DY Chandrachud, ordered the setting up of the National Task Force to suggest measures for the safety of the medical professionals in the country.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will bear all the expenses of the National Task Force.
Members of the National Task Force
The 14-member task force includes the 9 eminent doctors suggested by the Supreme Court.
The task force headed by the Cabinet Secretary, Government of India, includes the Home Secretary and Health Secretary. It also includes the Chairperson of the National Medical Commission and the president of the National Board of Examinations.
The eminent doctors in the task force are Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director of General Medical Services (Navy), Director All India Institute of Medical Sciences Dr M Srinivas, Chairman and Managing Director of Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, Dean, Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, Dr Pallavi Saple, Director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Dr Pratima Murthy, Executive Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Dr Goverdhan Dutt Puri, Chairperson, Institute of Surgical Gastroenterology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, Dr Saumitra Rawat, Vice-Chancellor, Pandit BD Sharma Medical University, Rohtak, Professor Anita Saxena, Chairperson of Neurology at Paras Health Gurugram. Dr Padma Srivastava.
Function of the National Task Force
According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the national task force will recommend:
- Measure to prevent violence against all medical professionals (interns, residents, senior residents, doctors, nurses and all medical professionals.),
- Dignified and safe working conditions for medical professionals,
- Any other matters related to the working of medical professionals.
Submission of the Report
The National Task Force has to submit an interim report on its proposed action plan within three weeks, with a final report due within two months.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare-J P Nadda
