Jamshedpur: Security at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital (MGMMCH) is set for a phased overhaul, with the state-run facility planning to replace 120 home guards with ex-servicemen by the end of 2026.Hospital officials said the move is aimed at creating a trained, disciplined and quicker response system at one of Kolhan’s busiest govt hospitals, where crowd pressure often peaks in the emergency, casualty and ward areas. The change will be gradual so day-to-day work is not affected.The plan comes against the backdrop of repeated flashpoints on the campus — arguments between attendants and staff after deaths during treatment, allegations of negligence, patients leaving wards unnoticed and safety concerns around wards, lifts and entry points.A senior doctor posted in the emergency ward said the first few minutes after a patient’s death are often the most sensitive. “When tension rises, the safety of doctors, nurses and other health workers is at risk. Treatment of other patients also suffers if the crowd is not controlled quickly,” the doctor said.Officials said ex-servicemen are expected to be deployed for crowd control, ward surveillance, access regulation at gates and elevators, and quick intervention during emergencies. The hospital also wants tighter monitoring of vulnerable points after past incidents in which patients reportedly slipped out of wards or attempted to jump from ward windows.Hospital superintendent Dr Balram Jha said the hospital needs a rapid response mechanism that can reach trouble spots fast, manage crowds and coordinate with police whenever required.“Preparations are under way to introduce the new security system in phases,” Jha said, adding that the arrangement would be rolled out without disrupting existing services. A detailed deployment plan will be finalised after administrative approval.
