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COVID-19: Attacking Doctors, Health Workers Can Now Put You In Jail For 7 Years

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Photo of a doctor in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, badly injured after fierce attack on his team by sympathisers of the Tablighi Jamaat

NEW DELHI: Attacks on healthcare workers from now on would merit a jail term of up to seven years and a fine of up to Rupees fifty lakhs. In an executive order passed urgently this afternoon, hours after Union minister Amit Shah declared the safety of medical personnel as “non-negotiable”, the government also made it a non-bailable offence.

The government has also made the Epidemic Act a concurrent act so it can make decisions and take action during an epidemic to control road, rail, marine and air traffic.

Home Minister Amit Shah today held a high-level meeting with Indian Medical Association doctors through video conferencing and assured them of their security in the fight against COVID-19. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan was also present on the occasion.

Allaying all concerns of the medical fraternity regarding their security in the fight against Coronavirus, HM Shah assured them that the Narendra Modi Government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring their well-being and security.

He condemned the recent attacks on health professionals and said that the prime minister is closely following all issues and concerns of doctors. Sure enough, the prime minister was quick to react to the move:

Naturally, the doctors’ fraternity welcomed the government move:

HM Shah told the medical fraternity representatives that all necessary arrangements would be put in place to prevent such incidents in future. He appealed to doctors not to do even a symbolic protest as proposed by them, as it is not in the national or global interest.

Following the announcement, the IMA has withdrawn the proposed protest to maintain the fight against COVID-19 in an uninterrupted manner.

Medical personnel have been playing a frontline role in the battle against coronavirus, the government has underscored repeatedly. But it has not stemmed the tide of attacks against doctors, nurses or paramedical workers, who were planning a symbolic protest on April 23.

Even as the home minister interacted with doctors today, Health Secretary Preeti Sudan has written to states asking them to take adequate measures for ensuring the safety of health care professionals.

Health care workers are also being tested for COVID-19, who examined a confirmed case without adequate protection or who are symptomatic.

A high-level multi-disciplinary team has been deputed to assist states in cluster containment plan and ICU and ventilator management.

A dedicated toll-free helpline number 08046110007 for providing psycho-social support for health care workers has been created.

An advisory for Human Resource Management of COVID-19 has been prepared to provide guidance to States and Union Territories on the human resources that can be mobilized. Training resources for medical and non-medical personnel on infection prevention and control are being done regularly by the Health Ministry.

Guidance notes released by the Health Ministry has mandated timely payments for frontline workers such as ASHAs.



from League of India

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