Hyderabad: Dr D. Nageshwar Reddy, the founder chairman of Asian Institute of Gastroenterology & AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, has been appointed as a member of the National Task Force, which was formed based on the orders of the Supreme Court to look into security issues in hospitals.
A Padma Bhushan awardee, Dr Reddy has made pioneering contributions to the medical field and his expertise has won him many accolades over the years. The most recent honour being the John Hopkins’ Captain’s Chair.
The National Task Force (NTF) has eight other members, all experts in the medical field, and five ex-officio members. NTF has been formed to make recommendations pertaining to safety, working conditions and well-being of medical professionals.
Its recommendations will be listed out under two major themes: prevention of violence including gender-based violence against medical professionals and providing an enforceable national protocol for dignified and safe working conditions for interns, residents, senior residents, doctors, nurses and all medical professionals. It can make additional suggestions based on the facilities in hospitals and after discussions with all stakeholders.
NTF needs to submit an interim report within three weeks and a final report within two months. The members of the National Task Force are Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin AVSM, VSM, director-general, medical services (Navy), Dr. D Nageshwar Reddy, chairman and managing director, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology & AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, Dr M Srinivas, director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, Dr Pratima Murthy, director, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, Dr Goverdhen Dutt Puri, executive director, AIIMS Jodhpur., Dr.Saumitra Rawat, chairperson, Institute of Surgical Gastroenterology and member, board of management, Gangaram Hospital, Delhi, Prof.Anita Saxena, vice-chancellor, Pandit DD Sharma Medical University, Rohtak, Dr Pallavi Saple, dean, Grant Medical College, Mumbai & Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, and Dr Padma Srivastav, former professor, neurology department, AIIMS Delhi and currently serving as chairperson of neurology, Paras Health.
The ex-officio members of the NTF are the Cabinet Secretary, home secretary, secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, chairperson of the National Medical Commission and the president of the National Board of Examination.
