Violence against doctors and staff in Punjab’s government hospitals is rising, with incidents reported in Sultanpur Lodhi, Kapurthala, Talwandi Sabo, Zira, Malout, and other towns since May 2024. In many cases, medical staff were attacked by groups of attendants or mobs, forcing them to hide within hospital premises. Despite repeated promises by the state government to enhance security through CCTV monitoring and outsourced guards under PESCO, implementation has been delayed. The Punjab Civil Medical Services Association has highlighted that deploying security staff would cost less than 0.2% of the state health budget. However, delays—especially from the finance department—have stalled progress. Doctors are calling for urgent action to ensure their safety and restore trust in public healthcare institutions.
Punjab Hospital Violence Escalates
