The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and other medical professionals' body on Wednesday hailed the government's decision to make violence against healthcare personnel fighting coronavirus a non-bailable offence, with some demanding that this law should apply to any such attack even after the crisis blows over.
The Union Cabinet has approved an ordinance making acts of violence and harassment against healthcare personnel deployed in combating COVID-19 a non-bailable offence with maximum punishment of seven years imprisonment and Rs 5 lakh fine, meeting a key demand of health professionals in the wake of recent attacks on them.
The ordinance will amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, and the amended law will also be invoked if healthcare personnel face harassment from their landlords or neighbours over suspicion that they may carry the coronavirus infection due to the nature of their work, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan tweeted, "The government has decided to promulgate an ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, in the light of the pandemic situation of #COVID?19. This will facilitate punishment under the law in cases of violence against healthcare service personnel serving during an epidemic."
Dr K K Aggarwal, the president of Confederation of Medical Associations of Asia and Oceania, said, "Violence and discrimination against the fraternity has once again come to the fore during the coronavirus pandemic. Healthcare providers are leading from the front. They must be given the highest form of protection in this critical hour."
He, however, said, "It is also important to note that this government rejected 'The Health Services Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill, 2019', which sought to punish people who assault on-duty doctors and other healthcare professionals by imposing a jail term of up to 10 year."
"Now the government is looking to amend the over a century-old Epidemic Diseases Act to protect healthcare workers only during this crisis. What will happen after the end of this pandemic? Isn't health a priority for the nation? When will the endless assault on health workers and health care facilities end?"
Dr Neeraj Gupta, professor in the Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Safdarjung Hospital the ordinance "is a balm to the aches of medical warriors and a valuable step toward right direction... I wish it remains permanent for non-COVID times as well."
The Federation of Resident Doctors Association said, "Thankful to Hon'ble Prime Minister and Ministry of Home Affairs for the much needed Ordinance and necessary amendments in Epidemic Act for protection of healthcare professionals. Expecting it to be a step in the right direction of implementing 'Central Act for Protection of Doctors & other healthcare professionals' which is our long-pending demand and a need in the long run,"
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