BRATISLAVA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Slovak Interior Ministry and Health Ministry have signed a memorandum of cooperation to strengthen the protection of healthcare workers following a series of recent attacks on medical staff in Bratislava, the News Agency of the Slovak Republic (TASR) reported Monday.
Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok, Health Minister Kamil Sasko and Police Corps President Jana Maskarova announced the agreement at a press conference, saying the two ministries would coordinate their efforts to improve security in healthcare facilities.
Sasko said he would meet with directors of state-run hospitals to discuss the implementation of basic security standards introduced by the Health Ministry. The Health Ministry is prepared to introduce security measures if necessary, he added.
Maskarova said police had recorded 32 assaults on healthcare workers over the past ten months. Of these, 23 were treated as criminal offences and nine as misdemeanors. Healthcare workers are afforded protected-person status under Slovak law, meaning offenders who assault them face tougher penalties, she said.
On Oct. 13, a drunk man physically assaulted a 23-year-old nurse in the emergency department of its Kramare hospital. On Oct. 23, a man attacked two hospital employees in Bratislava's Ruzinov hospital. Both attackers have been remanded in custody.
