Centre brings ordinance to end violence against health workers, details jail terms

Modi government has brought an ordinance to end violence against health workers which will carry imprisonment from 6 months to 7 years if anyone found guilty.  government will amend Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, and assaults on healthcare workers will be considered as cognizable and n-bailable offence whose probe will need to be done within 30 days under supervision of a senior inspector. judicial process and verdict would also arrive within a year.

"Health workers who are trying to save country from this epidemic are unfortunately facing attacks. incident of violence or harassment against m will be tolerated. An ordinance has been brought in, it'll be implemented after President's sanction," Union Minister Prakash Javdekar told reporters on Wednesday.

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Punishments

If convicted, accused can be sentenced from 3 months to 5 years in prison and penalised from Rs 50,000 upto Rs 2 Lakh based on gravity of offense. In case of grievous injuries, accused can be sentenced from 6 months to 7 years and y can be penalised from Rs 1 Lakh to Rs 5 Lakhs.

In addition, if any dam is done to vehicles or clinics of healthcare workers, n a compensation amounting to twice market value of damd property will be taken from accused. Javadekar said that re were rising demands to make a special law in this regard, or than provisions already present under or Acts like IPC, NSA, Disaster Manment Act, among ors.

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In ar decision, beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat will get free-of-cost treatment for COVID-19. Likewise, treatment for n-COVID illness will also be done without charge at n-empanelled hospitals.

IMA calls off protest

Union Cabinet's decision comes after Indian Medical Association (IMA) called off symbolic 'Black Day' protest that was planned for Thursday, in view of being re-assured by Home Minister Amit Shah over its concerns at a video conference held just a few hours earlier, in which Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan was also present.

Home Minister Amit Shah along with Health Minister Harsh Vardhan interacted with doctors and representatives of IMA through video conferencing. After meeting, Shah took to Twitter and sent out a strong mess for safety of doctors. Home Minister also urged Indian citizens to cooperate with doctors in this fight against COVID-19.

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