Srinagar, September 17: Ozone Pharmaceuticals Ltd. has launched ‘Ozone SHIELD’, an initiative aimed at providing security, legal and emotional wellbeing support to doctors facing violence, harassment and medico-legal challenges.
The initiative was launched at an event in New Delhi by Dr. Kiran Bedi, former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, who attended as the chief guest.
According to the company, the initiative has been introduced in response to concerns over the safety of healthcare professionals. It cited a nationwide survey conducted this year by experts from AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital and VMMC, covering more than 1,500 healthcare workers, which found that 78.4 per cent had faced threats while on duty, while 58.2 per cent did not feel safe at their workplace.
Ozone SHIELD will provide personal security support during threats or incidents of manhandling, legal assistance in medico-legal matters and emotional wellbeing support through counselling.
Subash Sehgal, Founder and Managing Director, Ozone Pharmaceuticals Ltd., said the initiative was conceived after decades of working closely with doctors and witnessing increasing instances of threats and harassment faced by members of the medical profession.
“The pharma industry and doctors stand together as one team serving society. When doctors face mindless violence or unnecessary legal harassment, protecting them becomes our duty,” Sehgal said.
Dr. Kiran Bedi said the initiative would help safeguard the legal and social rights of doctors while providing them with greater awareness, confidence and support.
The company said its field teams, present across the country, have begun introducing the initiative to doctors, initially focusing on gynaecologists before expanding it to other specialities. Doctors can also register through the SHIELD WhatsApp chatbot by providing basic details, following which the local team will contact them.
Anil Kothiyal, CEO, Ozone Pharmaceuticals Ltd., said doctors make significant sacrifices in their service to society and that the company viewed supporting them as a responsibility.
The initiative also includes awareness and information-sharing activities aimed at promoting greater public understanding of the challenges faced by doctors and the medical profession.
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