Kerala Human Rights Panel Calls for Ban on Film Shooting in Government Hospitals

Months after the shooting of a Malayalam film starring Fahad Fazil in a government hospital sparked a row, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission has called for a complete ban on filming in government hospitals.

Commission member VK Beena Kumari issued an order to avoid film shooting in government hospitals with 24-hour facilities like emergency wards. The order was issued in a case registered in connection with the shooting of a film at the Angamaly taluk hospital in June, a statement here said on Sunday.

The panel warned the taluk hospital superintendent not to repeat such incidents. It also asked the health department director to issue necessary instructions to hospital superintendents in the state in this regard. The report submitted by the Angamaly taluk hospital superintendent stated that the patients were provided with care despite the onslaught of firing on June 27, it said.

The commission, however, said that government hospitals are places where people go for treatment and granting permission to film there is against the promise made by the health workers. Noting that it was inappropriate for the film crew to choose a government hospital for filming, the commission wanted health officials to be more vigilant in such cases.

The statement added that although the director, who appeared at the July 5 committee meeting, argued that the shooting did not result in any denial of treatment or problems for patients, the committee rejected those allegations and made clear that the action was inappropriate.