Safety and dignity of our doctors at their work-place are non-negotiable, said Home Minister Amit Shah during the video conference with the IMA representatives on Wednesday. Photo/ANI/
By Pragya Kaushika
New Delhi [India], April 22 (ANI): It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi , who personally took cognisance of violence faced by doctors and guided the Cabinet to pass the ordinance that provides for stringent measures against anyone getting violent with the medical fraternity during the COVID-19 outbreak. Earlier today, Union Minister Amit Shah said that the “government is protecting those who are protecting India.”
“PM @narendramodi’s govt is committed to protecting those who are protecting India during these challenging times,” Shah tweeted. He added: “Bringing an ordinance to end violence against our doctors and health workers is a testimony of the same.
This will go a long way in assuring their safety and dignity.” Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr Rajan Sharma said the conference was held in response to the call given by the doctor’s body to observe the black day by health professionals as they are witnessing violence during the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
“Union Minister Shah said that he is concerned about our issues and that there is a clear message by the PM as well to sort this out as soon as possible. And his ministry is working on a strategy to overcome this issue shortly,” informed Sharma.
The Union Cabinet today passed an ordinance that is expected to act as a deterrent in ending violence against doctors and health professionals. The decision came within hours after the representatives of the IMA had a video conference with Home Minister Shah and Union Health Minister Dr Harshav Vardhan demanding a law to check violence against doctors.
During his conference with doctors, Shah had assured the doctors that justice will be done and no offence would go unpunished. Thanking the ministers for passing the ordinance, Dr Vinay Agarwal, former president IMA, said that Shah had made it clear in the morning conference that the government, especially his ministry, is serious about the issue.
Ramesh Datta, Finance Secretary, IMA, said: “We welcome the move. It is a positive news. We had been demanding this for the past many years. We welcome this step. I think the decision is the outcome of the conference we had with the Home Minister today.” Dr Agarwal said the IMA had been fighting for the security of health professionals for long. “A few states did bring the bill but it was toothless and not many perpetrators saw the indictment.
Then the coronavirus pandemic hit us out of nowhere. The PM applauded us not once but three times. We saw the violence against doctors in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Moradabad, and Gujarat, though doctors fought against the virus without preventive measures.
Doctors welcome Ordinance to check against health workers
After the Central government brought an ordinance to check violence against health workers, making it a cognizable and non-bailable offence, several doctorswelcomed the move on Wednesday. Dr DS Rana, Chairman, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said, “I welcome this ordinance. Such an ordinance was needed. This will instil fear in the minds of the people.”
Dr Sumedh Sandanshiv, who works at Delhi’s Dr RML Hospital, said: “We welcome this step by the Centre. This will boost the morale of doctors and all healthcare staff. This should be implemented for the future also.” Dr SC Aggarwal, who was injured in an attack in Moradabad, and his wife Dr Deepa Aggarwal, said, “After this Ordinance by the Centre, incidents of violence against doctors might reduce.
The safety of doctors and their families is important.” Addressing a press conference here today, Union Minister Prakash Javdekar said: “We have brought the ordinance under which any attack on health workers will be a cognizable, non-bailable offence. In the case of grievous injuries, the accused can be sentenced from 6 months to 7 years.
They can be penalised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.” Javadekar said that an amendment will be made to the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and ordinance will be implemented. “Such crime will now be cognizable and non-bailable. An investigation will be done within 30 days.
Accused can be sentenced from three months to five years, and penalised from Rs 50,000 up to Rs 2 lakh,” added Javadekar. Moreover, if the damage is done to 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, he stated.
The development comes after attacks on healthcare professionals, including doctors were reported from various parts of the country. Dr Sreejith N Kumar, a member of the central working committee of Indian Medical Association (IMA), told ANI: “We are extremely grateful to the Central government for this ordinance.
The immediate provocation was that even burial to a doctor was denied in Tamil Nadu recently. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself was asking the people to give respect to medical professionals.”
“We welcome the step. It was necessary in the wake of attacks on doctors in the recent past. The Central government must come up with a Central Protection Act to ensure the safety of doctors in the long run,’ said Dr Amardeep, a senior resident at AIIMS-Delhi. (ANI)
