The incident of rape and murder of a PG medical student in a government hospital in Kolkata has led to nationwide protests and agitations among the medical community. More shocking than this incident are the failures in the police investigation and the government's actions. In any case, the CBI has taken over the investigation following the order of the court. The court handed over the case to the CBI after criticizing the state government and the police. After this incident became controversial, the principal of the hospital tendered his resignation but the government did not accept it and appointed him as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College. The court alleged that this action was similar to giving an award to the principal and asked the principal to go on leave till further order.

The death of this female doctor can clearly be found to be a brutal murder. However, the police registered the case as an unnatural death. The principal was not even ready to file a complaint. When such incidents occur, the police, hospital authorities, and government should stand by the victim and their parents. However, the proceedings that happened here are making people doubt whether they are standing for the opposite side. The High Court has clarified that the investigation is being handed over to the CBI to ensure justice for the parents and instil confidence in the public. A civic volunteer has been arrested in the case. It is not clear if he is the only suspect. The government and the police in Kolkata tried to contain the incident, but widespread protests were seen all over the country in the following days.

The frequent attacks on doctors and health workers in hospitals are alarming. Not long ago, a woman doctor named Vandana Das was murdered in a government hospital in Kottarakkara, Kerala. According to the Indian Medical Association, an average of 80 cases of violence are reported in hospitals in the state. The central government and the Indian Medical Association should proactively implement precautionary measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. In the meeting called to discuss the security of health centres in Kerala in the wake of the incident in Kolkata, the health minister said that code grey protocol will be strictly implemented to ensure the safety of health workers and patients.

Following the Kolkata incident, the Medical Commission of India has directed all medical colleges and affiliated institutions in the country to ensure safe working conditions. The commission has instructed that a proper investigation must be carried out in case of violence against medical students, an FIR should be reported to the police, a report should be submitted to the National Medical Commission within 48 hours after clarifying the steps, and CCTV cameras should be installed in important areas of hospitals. There should also be measures to conduct safety audits of all major hospitals at regular intervals. Hospital administrators should also remember that such major incidents happen when no drastic action is taken on minor incidents and the issues are resolved by giving the offenders other considerations.