NHRC notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab over the reported irregularities and dereliction of duties by the doctors and senior staff at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH), Amritsar

New Delhi, 19th May, 2023

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India, has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that the doctors and senior staff of the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH), Amritsar in Punjab are not sincerely doing their lawful duty to attend the patients. Most of them habitually leave the patients at the mercy of the housekeeping and training staff and depart early. Reportedly, it is also alleged that the patients are subjected to ill-treatment and threatened that they will be discharged if any complaint is made against them.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, amount to a violation of the human rights of the patients and a matter of its concern. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. It should also include the steps taken or proposed to be taken to address the issue raised in the news report as well as action taken against the doctors and the staff found guilty in the matter.

According to the media report, carried on 17th May, 2023, it takes hours to give prescribed medicines and injections to a patient by the nursing staff of the hospital.

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