Doctors Welcome Ordinance To Protect Health Workers
After the Central government brought an ordinance to check violence against health workers, making it a cognizable and non-bailable offence, several doctors welcomed the move on Wednesday.
Dr DS Rana, Chairman, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said, “I welcome this ordinance. Such an ordinance was needed. This will instil fear in the minds of the people.”
Dr Sumedh Sandanshiv, who works at Delhi’s Dr RML Hospital, said: “We welcome this step by the Centre. This will boost the morale of doctors and all healthcare staff. This should be implemented for the future also.”
Dr SC Aggarwal, who was injured in an attack in Moradabad, and his wife Dr Deepa Aggarwal, said, “After this Ordinance by the Centre, incidents of violence against doctors might reduce. The safety of doctors and their families is important.”
Addressing a press conference here today, Union Minister Prakash Javdekar said: “We have brought the ordinance under which any attack on health workers will be a cognizable, non-bailable offence. In the case of grievous injuries, the accused can be sentenced from 6 months to 7 years. They can be penalised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.”
Javadekar said that an amendment will be made to the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and ordinance will be implemented.
ANI
