Code Grey To Be Implemented Across Hospitals in Kerala: What is It?

‘Code Grey’ protocol will be implemented across all hospitals in Kerala for the protection of hospitals and staff.

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Kerala Health Minister Veena George has said that ‘Code Grey’ protocol will be implemented across all hospitals in the state for the “protection of hospitals and hospital workers.”

Code Grey is an emergency protocol that alerts the hospital staff “to a dangerous or combative person in the hospital or to criminal activity somewhere in the hospital,” The Hindu reported. 

In situations where a patient/their family is being violent or aggressive, a protocol like this will ensure that the hospital staff knows what their roles in emergency situations are. 

Kerala is now the first state in the country to implement this.

Why is This Needed? With increasing cases of violence against doctors being reported in the country, this step comes after the state also modified the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2012. 

Apart from this, the state has also put in place certain security measures for medical institutions and will be conducting safety audits in these campuses.

What Did The Health Minister Say? The Hindu quoted George as saying that the protocol, which is commonplace in Western countries, will be “modified to suit all categories of health-care institutions in the State so as to defuse hospital emergencies.”

What Are Some Other Globally-Recognised Emergency Codes?

• Red- Fire

• Black- Bomb Threat

• Blue- Medical Emergency

(Written with inputs from the Hindu.)