New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said there can be no compromise on the safety of healthcare professionals fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and asserted that the ordinance approved by the Union cabinet shows the government's commitment in this regard.
He said the ordinance will ensure safety of our professionals.
"There can be no compromise on their safety!," Modi tweeted, and added that the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 "manifested the government's commitment to protect each and every healthcare worker who is bravely battling COVID-19 on the frontline.
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance, making acts of violence and harassment against healthcare personnel deployed in combating COVID-19 a non-bailable offence with maximum punishment of seven years imprisonment and Rs 5 lakh fine.
The ordinance, which amends a more than 100-year old law, says an attack would be punished by a minimum imprisonment of 5 months and a maximum of 5 years. An attack will be investigated will in 30 days and a court decision will be ensured in a year.
"In case of grievous injuries, the accused can be sentenced from six months to seven years. They (accused) can be penalised from Rs one lakh to Rs 5 lakh,” said said environment minister Prakash Javadekar said after a cabinet meeting in Delhi.
The ordinance will protect the whole healthcare fraternity, including doctors, nurses and ASHA workers, an official release said.
Amid rising incidents of violence against healthcare workers on the frontline of the fight against COVID-19, the IMA had called for a nation-wide 'White Alert', asking doctors and hospitals across the country to light candles on Wednesday as a protest against such attacks.
However, earlier in the day, the association called off the protest after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit shah.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) had also been demanding a Central law to deal with the crimes against healthcare professionals.
"While people across the nation salute the health workers and those in the field helping battle COVID-19, but there are few who are attacking them, thinking they are spreading the virus. There will be absolutely no tolerance to attacks on doctors and healthcare professionals," said Javedkar.
The ordinance will be implemented after the President signs it. “The message is clear. No attacks on health staff and doctors will be tolerated,” Javadekar said. The government had received several complaints of assaults on doctors and health workers.