Patiala, April 30 -- As many as 158 community health centres (CHCs) out of 162, 31 sub-divisional hospitals out of 39 and six district hospitals out of 23 have not even a single security guard, shows the data of the Punjab health department. This puts the security of medical staff at risk, especially during night hours, amid instance of clashes on hospital premises being reported frequently, say doctors. Even the Sangrur district hospital, which falls in the constituency of chief minister Bhagwant Mann, is functioning without any security guard. This was confirmed by civil surgeon Dr Sanjay Kamra. Though the remaining district hospitals have a few security guards, their number is reportedly insufficient. Their salary expenditure is borne under the user charges which hospitals receive. A few CHCs and sub-divisional hospitals too manage security in similar ways. In many CHCs, it has been learnt that male ward attendants are being deployed as substitutes for security personnel. A female medical officer stationed in a rural CHC in Patiala said while seeking anonymity, "I and other health staffers don't feel safe during night duties. Attendants of the patients often bully us. Sometimes, they openly threaten us. We find ourselves helpless as there is no guard to protect us." According to the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), around 50 incidents of violence took place against healthcare workers at various institutions from April 2024 to March 2025. PCMSA state president Dr Akhil Sarin said, "We have been demanding a safe working environment for months. The government recently assured us that security guards will be hired soon." A senior health official, who too sought anonymity, confirmed that the Punjab government was in the process of hiring security staff through the Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation (PESCO). "The finance department has approved the proposal. We are awaiting formal clearance. All sub-divisional hospitals and district hospitals will be provided with security guards. Priority will be given to the CHCs with high patient footfall or those providing round-the-clock emergency services," the official added....