How Can Frontline Healthcare Workers Enforce Rules Safely Amid Rising Aggression? Should Special Protection Laws Be Mandated for Pharmacists?

On November 30, a tragic incident occurred where a 43-year-old chemist from Kolkata was beaten to death after confronting a group that allegedly forged ICU admission papers to obtain medicines without prescriptions. The chemist had a reputation for strictly adhering to medical rules, refusing to dispense restricted drugs without proper documentation. When he challenged the fraudulent documents, the group allegedly retaliated with a brutal assault leading to his death. Six individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident, which has sent shockwaves through the healthcare community in Bengal.

The incident has instilled a deep fear among frontline workers across India, reinforcing the dangerous reality that enforcing rules can put their lives at risk. Many healthcare workers have expressed their fears online, sharing experiences of aggression when refusing fake prescriptions or forged reports. The fear has escalated to the point where many pharmacists now hesitate to challenge fraudulent documents, especially during the night.

This case highlights a significant governance gap in frontline healthcare workplaces. Pharmacists are legally obligated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act to verify prescriptions before dispensing scheduled medicines. Employers must ensure staff safety through measures like CCTV coverage, panic buttons, onsite guards, and mandatory "two-person shifts" after dark. Leadership must issue strict safety protocols and industry bodies may need to advocate for special offender penalties for violence against healthcare workers.

The question arises, how can frontline staff enforce rules without putting themselves in danger? Should states mandate special protection laws for pharmacists, similar to protections for doctors and nurses?

The incident underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to ensure the safety of frontline healthcare workers.

Firstly, the core issue is the threat to personal safety when enforcing rules in the healthcare sector. This affects not only the individual employee but also the employer, as it can lead to staff shortages, increased stress levels, and reduced efficiency.

Legally, under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, pharmacists are required to verify prescriptions before dispensing scheduled medicines. However, the Act does not provide specific protection measures for pharmacists facing aggression or violence in the line of duty.

The action plan should include the following steps:

1. Employers should ensure that safety measures such as CCTV coverage, panic buttons, onsite guards, and mandatory "two-person shifts" after dark are implemented.

2. Strict safety protocols should be issued by the leadership, instructing employees to never confront suspicious individuals alone, escalate immediately to supervisors, and maintain incident logs.

3. Employers should provide regular training sessions on conflict resolution and dealing with aggressive behavior.

4. Psychological support should be made available to employees who face aggression in the workplace.

5. Industry bodies should lobby for special offender penalties for violence against healthcare workers and frontline pharmacy staff.

In addition to these steps, states should consider mandating special protection laws for pharmacists, similar to protections for doctors and nurses. This would provide a legal deterrent against aggression towards pharmacists and ensure that they can carry out their duties without fear.

Finally, it's important to remember that while these measures can help mitigate the risk, they cannot completely eliminate it. Therefore, continuous review and improvement of safety protocols is crucial.