Hospital employee sacked over violent behaviour

Patiala: Punjab health and family welfare minister Dr Balbir Singh has ordered the dismissal of a contract employee at Mata Kaushalya Hospital in Patiala on Thursday after a video showing his violent behaviour towards a patient went viral on social media. The incident occurred at the hospital's OPD registration counter, where the contract employee, Gurpreet Singh, allegedly landed in a heated exchange before punching the glass partition of the registration booth. The impact shattered the glass, and shards injured a female patient waiting in line. The video circulated on platforms including X (formerly Twitter) and WhatsApp on Wednesday, triggering public outcry and a broader debate over staff conduct and patient safety in state-run healthcare facilities.Dr Balbir Singh made a surprise visit this morning, reviewed the evidence and visited the site before taking administrative action. The employee Gurpreet Singh was placed under immediate suspension, said the health minister who also directed that he be served a one-month notice, after which his services will be permanently terminated. A departmental inquiry was also launched to determine whether other staff members or systemic failures contributed to the escalation. "The behavior captured in that video is unacceptable. We cannot allow those who are supposed to help the sick to become a source of injury," the health minister stated.Dr Balbir Singh said the govt supported its staff but would not shield those who endangered the public. He also acknowledged that patient volumes of up to 1,700 daily created high-pressure conditions, and issued directives aimed at preventing future incidents. He instructed SMO Dr Vikas Goel to deploy more personnel at OPD counters to reduce long queues that often led to frustration for patients and clerks. He directed all medical and support staff to maintain a "compassionate and empathetic" attitude, regardless of how erratic a patient's behaviour might be.The minister also announced that staff who showed exceptional patience and empathy would be considered for promotions, while those who misbehaved would face "strict consequences." Addressing workplace safety for doctors, Dr Balbir Singh said that while staff misconduct was being punished, the govt already registered police cases against unruly attendants who attacked hospital workers in the past."Our goal is a 'Healthy Punjab.' That starts with a hospital environment where the staff feels safe and the patients feel respected," Dr. Balbir Singh concluded. Mata Kaushalaya hospital SMO Dr Vikas Goel said that Gurpreet was working since 2021 in the hospital, and no complaints related to his behaviour reached ever in the past. MSID:: 129978586 413 |