Chandigarh, Jan 1: Amid rising incidents of violence against doctors, the Punjab government has approved the deployment of security guards at government-run district hospitals, officials said.
The Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) said 200 security personnel will be hired through the Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation on an outsourcing basis for an initial two-month period in January and February 2026. The proposal has received clearance from the Finance Department and the health and family welfare minister, according to an official communication dated Dec. 31, 2025.
The decision comes after nearly 80 cases of violence against medical professionals were reported across the state over the past two years, including in both border districts and urban centers. Most incidents occurred in district hospitals that provide round-the-clock emergency services.
Salaries for the guards during the initial period will be paid through the Emergency Response Fund for most districts, while hospitals in Bathinda, Sri Muktsar Sahib, MKH Patiala and SBS Nagar will use user charges to meet the expense, officials said.
From March 2026 onward, the joint chief financial advisor of the Directorate of Health Services has been asked to make budgetary provisions under the 2026–27 financial year.
Under the deployment plan, major hospitals such as Ludhiana and Jalandhar will get 12 and 11 guards, respectively, while Amritsar, Bathinda and MKH Patiala will also receive 11 personnel each. Smaller districts like Barnala, Malerkotla and Roopnagar will have seven guards each.
Doctors welcomed the move but raised concerns over its temporary nature.
“This is a long-pending demand and comes as a New Year relief for doctors and allied staff working under constant pressure,” said Dr. Akhil Sarin, president of the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association.
However, he said outsourcing was not a permanent solution.
“There must be a long-term, enforceable security framework. Temporary arrangements cannot effectively deter violence against doctors,” Sarin said, adding that the association hopes sub-divisional hospitals will be covered in the next phase.
