Tripura makes dress code mandatory in hospitals

Agartala, Nov 19 : The Tripura government has made the dress code for doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, and other health workers mandatory in hospitals during duty hours, and warned of strict action in case of violation of the order.

In a recent circular the government said, “Being an official and designated responsible person in the hospital, staff in the hospital must wear their appropriate dress codified nationwide for them. Also, they should attach a name-plate and wear an identity card which is mandatory for easy identification.”

“The contempt of this order will be handled strictly,” the circular warned. The doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and other health staff have never regularly worn their codified dress. Except for nurses, doctors and other staff including even medical superintendents of hospitals avoid using aprons.

According to a report, Chief Minister Manik Saha, who also holds the health portfolio, came to know that a sizable number of health workers including doctors in the government hospitals and Medical Colleges remain busy with personal work during their duty hours and are not found in their chairs most of the time.

“Even some staff have been misbehaving with the patients and misguiding them in Agartala Government Medical College, state referral hospital IGM, and district hospitals across the state. Many patients and their relatives, wishing to file complaints, often find it difficult to identify their tormentors among doctors, nurses, and other health staff because of their casual dress and absence of nameplates,” officials stated.