Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Saturday asked states to consider enacting specific legislation for protecting doctors and medical professionals from any form of violence in the wake of the recent assault on doctors in West Bengal.
Along with a letter to all chief ministers, he also attacheda copy of the Draft Act provided by IMA –the Protection of Medical ServicePersons and Medical Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage orLoss of Property) Act, 2017.
He drew the attention of all states and UTs for strictaction against any person who assaults doctors.
The move comes after the Indian Medical Association (IMA)launched a four-day nationwide protest from Friday and wrote to Union HomeMinister Amit Shah demanding enactment of a central law to check violenceagainst healthcare workers in hospitals. The apex doctors body has called for anationwide strike on June 17 with withdrawal of non-essential health services.
Vardhan cited a letter dated July 7, 2017 sent by the UnionHealth Ministry to all chief secretaries of states which contains the decisiontaken by an Inter-Ministerial Committee constituted by the ministry to reviewthe issues raised by IMA.
The committee, in its report, had recommended that theHealth Ministry shall suggest to all state governments which do not havespecific legislation to protect doctors and health professionals to considerone to strictly enforce the provisions of special legislation wherever theyexist or enforce the IPC/CrPC provisions with vigour.
“The IMA has raised this concern many a times. Since’police’ and ‘public order’ are state subjects, government of India, on manyoccasions has drawn attention of state governments for an urgent need for a robust criminaljustice system with emphasis on prevention and control of crime,” Vardhansaid. The draft of The Protection of Medical ServicePersons and Medical Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage orLoss of Property) Act, 2017, circulated to the states, includes clauses onpenalty and recovery in case of loss/damage to property.