The VSS Medical College and Hospital in Burla has decided to instal Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras on its premises.
The decision was taken after a team of district administration officials reviewed the hospital’s security arrangements on Sunday. The team was deputed by Collector Balwant Singh to make an assessment on installation of the CCTV cameras.
The move comes after a private security guard in the hospital was apprehended for stealing money and mobile phone of a patient. Following the incident, deployment of private security guards by making payment of about ` five lakh every month from Rogi Kalyan Samiti has been questioned.
At present, the security guards monitor the movement of public and patients on the hospital premises. It is expected that CCTV cameras in addition to the Police Outpost would augment the security of the doctors and the patients.
Meanwhile, installation of costly CCTV cameras has also been criticised as the services in the hospital have been deteriorating due to lack of basic amenities and large scale vacancies.
The capacity of hostel authorities to maintain the electronic gadgets has already been under doubt after the biometric system installed for the doctors broke down a week after installation.
Under Watch
It is expected that CCTV cameras in addition to the police outpost would augment the security of the doctors and the patients
* At present, security guards monitor the movement of public and patients on the hospital premises
* The move comes after a private security guard in the hospital was nabbed for stealing money and mobile phone of a patient