Docs can't use the Red Cross

State has issued government resolution warning hospitals and medical bodies not to use the symbol as its patent belongs to the Red Cross Society

Were you aware that your general practitioner, who flashes the Red Cross sign at their clinic, is violating a law?
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The Red Cross, which has conventionally been used to indicate medical services, does not signify any or every medical facility.
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It is the official emblem and a patent of the humanitarian body, Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS).

And in a bid to stop the unwitting use of the sign, the state issued a Government Resolution on January 17 promising strict action against those exterior to the Society and yet using it.

A member body of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, IRCS works for victims of war, conflict and natural disaster in the country.

Its Honorary Secretary Homai Modi said, "We assume that because the Society works for healing the wounded, its symbol became a popular sign to indicate anything related to medical care.

But actually, all facilities including doctors, dispensaries and ambulances have independent signs (see picture) that they should use and popularise.

As most people are unintentionally using the symbol we do not want to take strict action. We want to first inform them."

And for the same, the Society had undertaken an awareness campaign in November last year and sent volunteers to clinics using the Cross to notify them about its proper display.

Admitting to the lack of awareness, Damjibhai Palan, president, Retail and Dispensing Chemists Association, said, "We used it as other medical facilities use it too.

Only when the Society pointed it out did we come to know that we have an internationally accepted green cross symbol to indicate dispensaries, not the red cross.
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We have notified over 40,000 chemists under our banner about the change and distributed it as well."

The Indian law regulating the use of the emblem is called the Geneva Conventions Act and it became a law in 1960. According to sections 12 and 13 (under Chapter IV) of the Act, the misuse of the emblem is a punishable offence.

Misuse

Modi pointed out that malefactors abuse the sign by accessing conflict zones under its cover. She said, "The Society has access to war fields and conflict areas like Naxal-hit districts.
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Whenever we go to these areas we use the symbol to indicate our neutrality so no individual fears seeking help from us. The indiscriminate display of Red Cross has led to incidents of misuse.

Using it on vehicles, people can access conflict zones because they get camouflaged. Wrongdoers have even collected funds on its strength."

However Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Brijesh Singh said, "We cannot take action against anyone for using a symbol on their vehicle, only for fancy number plates."


The Red Cross symbol is the prerogative of Indian Red Cross Society and other designated users only

This is where the GR comes in to help regulate the symbol's use. Modi added, "Though many doctors have obliged, there are yet many dispensaries and pharmacists using the symbol.
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Even the mass media use the Red Cross to indicate medical services. We are facing an identity crisis."

Officials speak

Dr D S Dakhure, Director of the Directorate of Health Services, said, "I am not aware of that doctors cannot use the Red Cross symbol. I will seek information on the issue. We haven't notified our people about its usage yet."

Dr G T Ambe, Executive Health officer, BMC, said, "We have no time to see who is putting what kind of cross. But we are aware that Red Cross is an official symbol of the Indian Red Cross Society."

M Masand, CEO, Jaslok Hospital, said, "I am completely unaware that we aren't allowed to use it.
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If the Society has objected, we will stop using it on the hospital premises, but it will be a loss for the people as they associate it with life-saving activities.
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I have served in the army for 25 years and the red cross on a box indicated that it is a first aid box. People in villages associate it with hospitals or dispensaries."

Dr Shivkumar Utture of the Indian Medical Association, said, "We have intimated all IMA members about the illegitimate use of the symbol and distributed the original symbol among them."

Caduceus
The common symbol to denote health and medical services is the caduceus, a figure that comprises a short staff rod with two serpents curled around it, sometimes surmounted by wings. It is the staff of Aesculapius (also called Asclepius), the ancient mythical god of medicine. The same staff was also borne by heralds in general. For example, Iris, the messenger of Hera, Roman God Mercury, wielded it.

Red cross
The Red Cross on a white background was the original protection symbol declared at the 1864 Geneva Convention "for the amelioration of the condition of the wounded and sick in armed forces in the field".