With increasing reports of attacks on healthcare workers involved in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the country, the Centre, on Tuesday, brought in an ordinance to protect frontline workers. Addressing media after a cabinet meet, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the attack on doctors and healthcare workers will now be seen as non-bailable offence and will carry imprisonment from six months to seven years, if found guilty.
Speaking of incidents where doctors are being mistreated, he said the there will be no tolerance towards those who unleash violence against healthcare workers who deserve the nation's salute amid the pandemic.
He said the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 has been amended for the same, and investigation will be carried out in 30 days. The accused can also be penalised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakhs, he added.
Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) called off its plans for symbolic nationwide protests on Wednesday and Thursday to demand a Central law to protect medical professionals from attack. The decision came after representatives of IMA met Home Minister Amit Shah.
The IMA had called for a nationwide 'white alert' protest on Wednesday, which involved doctors and medical staff lighting candles to protest against recent incidents of violence targeting health care professionals engaged in the fight against novel coronavirus. The IMA also called on doctors to wear black badges to work on Thursday.
The IMA had sought that the Central government pass an ordinance to deter such violence. The IMA had threatened further protests if the Centre did not address its demands.
Besides being physically abused and denied entry to residential areas, families of at least two doctors, who succumbed to the novel coronavirus in Shillong and Chennai, had faced opposition while performing their last rites as the local residents claimed that burying them in their localities may lead to the spread of the infection.