"Doctors have withdrawn protest": Tamil Nadu Health Minister

"Doctors have withdrawn the protest which they have announced before. We have assured about the safety of the doctors so they are withdrawing the protest," the health minister said in a press conference.

Earlier today, Dr Balaji was stabbed seven times allegedly by accused Vigneswaran in Chennai's Kalaignar Centenary Hospital. The person had been coming to the hospital for his mother's chemo procedure.

The Health Minister also assured that the injured doctor is stable and safe.

"The doctor is safe now, he is under treatment. He has worked in many Government hospitals in the state. After the incident the Police arrested one person in this case and further investigation is underway," Subramanian said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin also assured that the government would ensure that such an incident would not happen again.

He said, "I already addressed the press in the afternoon once I visited the injured doctor. It was an accident. The Health Minister is addressing the press. We'll see that it doesn't happen again."

The state's Directorate of Public Health and Preventative Medicine also issued a notification announcing certain safety measures for health care workers. The notification said to regulate access of the general public and relatives of the patients, ensure the functioning of CCTV cameras and adequate lighting, ensure regular patrolling by police officials at Primary Health Centres among many other measures.

The notification also ordered the formation of a 'Hospital Security Committee' and a 'Violence Prevention Committee' at Primary Health Centres, "to strategize and implement appropriate security measures"

"The 'Hospital Security Committee' may be headed by the Block Medical Officers/Incharge Medical Officers concerned. Further, the 'Violence Prevention Committee' may be headed by the senior doctors," read the notification. (ANI)