LAHORE, May 9: The Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH) has adopted various security measures to protect doctors, paramedical staff and attendants from any violence by psychiatric patients. Measures have been taken on the directions of the health department after a psychiatric patient’s attack on a doctor. The doctor had sustained serious knife injuries.

According to PIMH executive director Dr Saeed A Akhtar, the institute has posted guards equipped with metal detectors on the main gate, the OPD gate and the entrance of indoor units to ensure that no body can enter with any weapon or harmful article.

Further more, he said, an alarm system had been installed in all doctors’ rooms linking it with the control room.

Dr Akhtar said he had held a meeting with the health secretary and discussed the issue of attack on institute’s doctor by a patient.

He said the health secretary had also sought that the institute should submit a proposal for hiring services of at least 10 trained security guards, who might be assigned the duty to meet any emergency situation in future.

The institute is also considering to construct emergency doors in doctors’ rooms in the OPD. He said the health department also recommended financial assistance for the injured doctor.