In a groundbreaking move to ensure doctor safety, the Palakkad branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has begun equipping medical professionals with a powerful self-defense tool: pepper spray.
Imagine a doctor’s desk: stethoscopes, blood pressure monitors, reflex hammers, and tongue depressors – soon, a small canister of pepper spray will join these essential tools in Palakkad clinics and hospitals.
This initiative by the IMA comes as a direct and urgent response to the alarming increase in assaults against doctors, a disturbing pattern that has left healthcare workers feeling vulnerable. Remarkably, the IMA Palakkad is the first medical organization in India to implement such a self-defense measure.
The medical community has been profoundly impacted by a series of horrific incidents. These include the tragic stabbing death of Vandana Das in Kottarakara in 2023, the brutal rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata in 2024, and a recent violent assault on a doctor in Thamarassery. Such events have created a climate of fear, making many doctors feel increasingly unsafe and targeted in their workplaces.
Dr. R. Sathyajith, President of IMA Palakkad, emphasized the urgency, stating, “Our primary aim is to arm doctors with the necessary means to protect themselves against the escalating number of attacks they face.”
Initial Distribution and Supply Challenges
Last Saturday, almost two dozen pepper spray canisters were distributed. This initial rollout marks the beginning of a more extensive plan to provide this crucial safety device to all 900 members of the organization.
Despite a large order placed by the IMA for additional canisters, air cargo restrictions are causing an estimated week-long delay in receiving the full quantity needed.
Dr. Sathyajith views the pepper spray distribution as a stark message to the wider community. “We are clearly communicating that doctors feel profoundly vulnerable and threatened,” he explained, “and we demand that authorities implement concrete actions to tackle this urgent issue.”
He further criticized the government’s lack of action regarding its own 2021 directives. These directives included vital safety measures such as installing surveillance cameras in critical hospital zones, deploying ex-servicemen as security personnel, and offering security training to paramedical staff. Dr. Sathyajith highlighted that none of these crucial measures have been put into practice.
“We have consistently advocated for hospitals to be officially designated as safe zones,” Dr. Sathyajith reiterated, emphasizing the ongoing struggle for a secure environment.
Dr. C.S. Swapna, a gynecologist at Government Medical College Hospital, Palakkad, expressed relief: “Reports of attacks on doctors have made us feel incredibly vulnerable, particularly with minimal security present at night. This initiative is a much-needed boost to our confidence.”
Dr. Dilip Kuncheria, an orthopedist at Government Medical College Hospital and former IMA secretary, brought up a crucial point: “The public often misunderstands the challenges doctors face. While the patient load has drastically increased over the years, the healthcare system hasn’t evolved to match, leaving doctors to bear the immense strain alone.”