The violence against a doctor equals an attack on the healthcare system – urgent sanctions and a safe working environment
The Doctor’s Chamber of the Republic of North Macedonia, along with European Medical Associations and the Ministry of Health, today pay respect to the 12th of March, the European Day for Raising Awareness Against Violence Towards Healthcare Workers, which represents an alarm for the "silent pandemic" that is corroding the healthcare system and the society.
The President of the Chamber, Prof. Dr. Kalina Grivcheva Stardeva, pointed out that when a doctor is a victim of a verbal or physical attack, or experiences aggression through social networks, it is not only the individual who suffers, but the entire system and the patients who are waiting for medical assistance.
"We, the doctors are not your enemies, on the contrary - the doctor is the person who struggles for your life in various situations. The violence and the aggression are never solutions for the system insufficiencies," said Prof. Dr. Grivcheva Stardelova.
The statistics is disappointing and indicate that over 70% of doctors in the country have faced violence in their working environment, while the surveys made by the Chamber reveal that as many as 78% of doctors have been exposed to some form of violence, out of which 80% was verbal and 6.8% physical. Despite the amendments to the Criminal Code, made in year 2023, according to which assaults on medical personnel is regarded as assaults against public officials, the expected results seem to fall behind given that nearly 70% of attacks have not been reported at all due to the extensive procedures or the doctor’s perception that it is some kind of a component of their profession. According to figures from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, under the Health Care Act, during the past year, two criminal charges were filed for felonies that state 'assault on a healthcare worker and healthcare associate while performing healthcare activities,' involving three offenders. One of these incidents occurred in Skopje, involving two offenders, and the other one occurred in Shtip.
Prof. Dr. Cardi Hadzhihamza, a member of the Executive Board of the Chamber, as a psychiatrist alerts about the seriousness of the consequences for the doctors that suffered the attacks.
“The consequences of violence against doctors are serious and include psychological stress, anxiety, and burnout, which force many of them to consider leaving the profession or going abroad, which further weakens the healthcare system. In order to prevent such occurrences, it is necessary for the healthcare institutions to introduce improved security measures - such as security personnel and video surveillance, but also to work on enhanced communication between doctors and patients and education of the patients as well” emphasized Prof. Dr. Hadzihamza.
The Doctor’s Chamber insists on a rapid institutional resolution of every incident and stopping the digital discreditation of the doctors, while simultaneously demands improvement of the working conditions through increased staffing and better organization.
"Humanity is a two-way street, and that is why mutual respect and absence of tolerance for violence by any performers – institutions, media, and citizens – is necessary if aiming for a safe environment in which the doctors can practice their profession with dignity. The Chamber encourages all doctors to report incidents to the police and to the Chamber, viewing that only appropriate sanctions shall make clear that violence is not an acceptable form of expressing dissatisfaction," emphasizes Prof. Dr. Grivcheva Stardeva.
Improved security measures should include increased security presence, video surveillance systems, and clear protocols for responding in case of aggression. Furthermore, efforts should be made to enhance the communication between doctors and patients. When patients are well informed about their medical condition and the treatment process, the level of distrust and frustration decreases. Also, the development of the doctor’s communication proficiencies requires more attention. Additionally, educational public campaigns for patients are also necessary in order to raise the awareness about the need of respect for the healthcare workers that shall consequently contribute to creating a culture of mutual respect.
