7-Year Jail For Attacking Doctors
The Central Government has proposed an amendment to the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 to protect healthcare workers against violent assaults.
Addressing a press conference after the Union Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar announced that the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 has been amended. Now under the new amended law, there will be stricter laws for the protection of doctors and healthcare staff against violence. Now if any person attacks healthcare workers they will be arrested and it will be a non-bailable offence.
The government has proposed a jail time of three months to five years and a penalty of Rs 50,000- Rs 2 lakh.
If doctors are violently attacked and they suffer serious injuries, then as per the new law they will be jailed for six months to seven years and a penalty of Rs. 1- Rs 5 lakh. If a health worker's property is damaged, twice the amount will be recovered from the perpetrator.There will be zero tolerance for attacks on health staff.
The new law will cover doctors, nurses, health workers, attendants, and ASHA workers. The decision was made because there have been many attacks on healthcare professionals treating patients of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have increased. As per the new law, investigation will be completed within a month and a decision will be made in a year's time. The new changed law has been sent to the President for approval. It will come into effect immediately with the President's approval.
