MHA asks state govts to take necessary measures for ensuring safety of healthcare workers

Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday reiterated that it was responsibility of all state governments to take all necessary measures for ensuring protection of healthcare professionals.

In a letter dressed to all Chief Secretaries, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla observed that even a single incident of violence against healthcare workers at this juncture would create insecurity among entire healthcare community. He called upon state governments to consult local chapters of Indian Medical Association to formulate measures for protection of healthcare workers.

reafter, Bhalla asked states to take strict penal action against persons who obstruct health professionals in discharge of ir lawful services by invoking provisions of Disaster Manment Act, 2005. He also ted that re h been instances where family members of medical professionals suspected to have died because of COVID-19 h been barred from performing final rites. MHA observed that strict action must be taken in such cases. Furrmore, it requested state governments to appoint dal officers at state and district level to redress any safety issue of medical professionals. 

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Union Cabinet approves ordinance

dressing a press briefing earlier in day, Union I&B Minister Prakash Javekar anunced that Union Cabinet h approved an ordinance to protect health workers. Basically, Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 has been amended to make an attack on health workers a cognizable and n-bailable offence. investigation in such cases has to be completed within 30 days and verdict will have to be delivered within one year. Assault on health workers will attract a penalty of Rs.50,000 to 2 lakh and a jail term of 3 months to 5 years. 

If it is a serious injury, an enhanced penalty in form of Rs.1 to 5 lakh and a jail term ranging from 6 months to 7 years will apply. Moreover, twice cost of damd property of healthcare workers will be recovered from guilty. Javekar also revealed that a decision h been taken by Cabinet whereby n-COVID patients can be freely treated even in n-empanelled or COVID hospitals under Ayushmann Bharat Yojana. 

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