Epidemic Diseases Act amended: Attacking medics can cost up to 7 years in jail

NEW DELHI: In a significant move, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday amended the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1987 through an ordinance in order to ensure safety of health workers at a time when there has been a spate of attacks on them. Any violence against health workers may now bring steep fines and even imprisonments of up to seven years. The amendment has ensured that the investigation takes place in a time-bound manner. A special provision is also made in the ordinance in case vehicles or clinics are damaged. In such cases, two times the cost will be recovered from the persons committing such crimes.

This Cabinet’s move comes hours after Home Minister Amit Shah interacted with doctors and particularly the Indian Medical Association (IMA) through video conferencing on Wednesday, leading the IMA to “withdraw” it’s symbolic protests scheduled on on April 22 and 23 against incidents of violence on health workers pressed into COVID-19 duty.

From now on, such violence is not just cognizable but also non-bailable offence. Additionally, it has provisions to provide compensation for injury to Healthcare service personnel or for causing damage or loss to the property, the government said on Wednesday.

KS Dhatwalia, Principal Spokesperson for the government, tweeted: “Ordinance would help protect Healthcare service personnel and their living/working premises against violence”.

“This actually helps protect the entire Health fraternity including doctors, nurses, paramedics up to ASHA workers, “ said Union I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar. The Minister said the amendment was necessitated after incidents of violence were witnessed against them while discharging their crucial duty for the country.

The IMA in a statement expressed satisfaction stating they are convinced with the assurances. “It is expressed that in this period of global crisis...such protest will send a bad signal of the unity of our country...,”said the IMA.

It added that it has decided to withdraw the proposed White alert protest on 22nd and Black Day on 23rd to “maintain unity and integrity of our country”.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan was also present in the video conferencing with doctors. Later Shah tweeted: “The way our doctors are performing their duties in these testing times is exceptional. I urge every Indian to cooperate with doctors in this fight against COVID-19.”

Sending a strong message against the attackers, Shah added that safety and dignity of doctors at their work place are “non-negotiable”. “It is our collective responsibility to ensure conducive atmosphere for them at all times. I have assured doctors that the Modi government is committed to their cause and appealed to reconsider their proposed protest,” the Home Minister added. (IANS)

Also Read: The Epidemic Diseases Act

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