aking cognisance of incidents of violence and attacks against doctors and health staff from various parts of the country, the Union Health Ministry on Friday asked all States and Union Territories to review in detail and ensure prompt steps for the safety and wellbeing of healthcare workers while strictly implementing the amended Epidemic Disease Act.
“Healthcare workers are the most crucial resources in Covid-19 management on all fronts,” said Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry Lav Agarwal in a letter to additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries and health secretaries of all states and Union Territories.
The Government move came after a series of protests by the medical fraternity led by the Indian Medical Community and other doctors associations like FAIMA against the attack on their colleagues by the relatives of the patients.
“Our endeavours to manage Covid-19 are replete with examples of commitment by our healthcare workers at all levels. While the country at large has applauded the efforts of the health fraternity, there were examples of them being stigmatized and even violence resorted to against healthcare workers,” Agarwal pointed out.
Recently, there have been reports of physical violence against doctors, healthcare workers and other professionals particularly from Assam, West Bengal and Karnataka, Agarwal said.
“Such incidents impact the morale of our healthcare workforce who have shown exemplary commitment against all odds in COVID-19 management.
“Considering the importance of the issue, it is requested that all states may undertake a detailed review and ensure that prompt and necessary steps are taken for healthcare workers safety and wellbeing besides strict implementation of the amended Epidemic Disease Act,” he said.
The Centre had brought an ordinance and later notified it as an act, under which violence against healthcare personnel is a non-bailable and cognisable offence.