Taking cognizance of the sexual abuse incident, North Goa District Hospital authority has reportedly decided to install CCTV camera surveillances in the hospital premises.
It may be recalled that a ward boy attached to the North Goa District Hospital was arrested by the Mapusa police for sexually abusing two minor siblings in the lift of the hospital.
It must be said that in hospitals and healthcare facilities, video surveillance is an effective tool for increasing security. It can protect hospital employees and patients from security breaches.
There have been instances of doctors being abused and even physically attacked by relatives of a patient. CCTV surveillance can be a deterrent to such incidents or the footage can be used in the investigation.
But what is also important is to have signs displayed warning people that the place is under CCTV surveillance. Obviously cameras will have to be installed in the elevators of the hospital, entrances and exits, parking lots among other critical areas requiring video surveillance.
It must be said that extreme caution must be exercised while installing CCTV cameras in a hospital. The use of CCTV surveillance in hospitals can be problematic because of the need to protect patients’ confidentiality.
