LAHORE: In response to increasing concerns over staff misconduct and patient care, the Punjab government has announced plans to equip non-doctor hospital personnel with body cameras. The initiative aims to enhance accountability and discipline among staff in public healthcare facilities.
Under the new scheme, body cameras will be assigned to ward attendants, security personnel, pharmacy staff, and other healthcare workers. The move comes after numerous reports of mistreatment of patients, along with instances of altercations and violence within hospital premises, raising safety and service quality concerns.
However, the proposal has faced criticism from various quarters. Many healthcare professionals and officials argue that the decision was implemented hastily without adequate consultation and raises privacy issues—particularly in sensitive areas such as emergency rooms, labor wards, and diagnostic zones.
Dr. Shoaib Khan Niazi, President of the Young Doctors Association Punjab, criticized the initiative, calling it poorly planned. He pointed out that no other country employs body cameras on medical staff due to privacy considerations. “Medical procedures involve exposing patients’ bodies, and recording these moments infringes on their privacy,” he explained.
Dr. Niazi further emphasized that systemic issues like staff shortages, lack of beds, and insufficient medicines are the root causes of public dissatisfaction, not staff misconduct alone. “Overburdened doctors and staff cannot be disciplined through surveillance. Real reform requires addressing basic infrastructure problems,” he added.
While the Punjab government believes this move will promote transparency, critics warn it might lead to unintended consequences and hinder trust between patients and healthcare providers. For now, the initiative will be piloted on a trial basis, with healthcare workers adopting a cautious stance and monitoring developments.
