Amidst increasing incidence of attacks on health workers across the country, the government has cleared an ordinance that is aimed at ending such attacks by amending the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that Union Cabinet meeting, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had approved the ordinance that would make such acts of violence as cognizable and non-bailable offences and to provide compensation for injury to healthcare service personnel or for causing damage or loss to the property. Ordinance would help protect Heathcare service personnel and their living/working premises against violence.
Health workers who are trying to save the country from this epidemic are unfortunately facing attacks. No incident of violence or harrasamemnt, against them will be tolerated. An ordinance has been brought in, it’ll be implemented after President’s sanction says Prakash Javadekar. Stringent provisions of punishment in proposed ordinance, says Prakash Javadekar.
If damage is done to the vehicles or clinics of healthcare workers, then a compensation amounting to twice the market value of the damaged property will be taken from the accused says Union Minister Prakash Javadekar. “Attack on health workers won’t be tolerated. In case of grave injury caused, accused can get jail term from 6 months to 7 years”: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.
Amendment to be made to Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and Ordinance will be implemented. Such crime will now be cognizable & non-bailable. Investigation will be done within 30 days. Accused can be sentenced from 3 months-5 yrs & penalised from Rs 50,000 upto Rs 2 Lakh, the minister said.
The announcement came barely hours after the union home minister Amit Shah sought to allay the concerns of the medical fraternity regarding their security in the fight against Corona virus by assuring them that the government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring their wellbeing and security.
Following Shah’s announcement, the Indian Medical Association that planning a nationwide strike has called it off.