Amid reports of increased incidents of conflict among doctors and patients and their relatives across the country, the Union Health Ministry has set up a panel to discuss the Central Protection Act against assaults on the medical professionals.
Up in arms against the attacks by relatives and patients, the doctors of some Government hospitals in the capital past few days had gone on strike, hampering health services.
A statement issued by the Ministry said on Tuesday that a ten-member committee has been constituted to “examine the pros and cons of brining out a central legislation against assault on doctors on duty and clinical establishments.”
The panel which has representatives from RML, AIIMS, MCI and IMA besides Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), besides joint secretary (Health) will meet on Wednesday to discuss the matter.
Welcoming the move, the) in a statement said that the doctors bear the brunt of angered patients and attendants due poor infrastructure, faulty health care policies and inadequate manpower.
“Many a time, doctors have faced life threatening assaults followed by various agitations. The Government has considered the option of Central Protection Act to combat the rising assaults on doctors and smooth functioning of health care delivery system,” said a member of the FORDA.
The assaults on health care professionals, especially doctors have increased considerably over the few years.
Inadequate or non existing security, weak legal framework, growing trust deficit between patients and doctors and poor human and infrastructure in health are being blamed for increase in such incidents.