'Register FIRs, Invoke Epidemic Act': Centre Directs States To Take Strict Action On Violence Against Medicos

As per the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, 2020, anyone involved in the assault on doctors and healthcare professionals is liable to be punished with imprisonment up to five years, and a fine up to Rs 2 lakh.

New Delhi: The Union government on Saturday directed states to register cases and invoke the stringent Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, 2020 against indiviuals found assaulting doctors and healthcare professionals.

A letter was sent by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla to States and Union Territories in this regard after the Indian Medical Association began a “Save the Saviors” protest against recent cases of violence against healthcare professionals in different parts of the country.

"You will agree that any incident of threat or assault on doctors or healthcare professionals may dampen their morale and create a sense of insecurity amongst them. This may adversely affect the healthcare response system," Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote.

The home secretary stressed that in the present circumstances, it is imperative to take strict action against those who assault healthcare professionals.

"Institutional FIRs should be registered against assaulters and such cases should be fast-tracked. You may also like to invoke provisions of the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, 2020, where applicable," he added.

As per the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, 2020, anyone involved in the assault on doctors and healthcare professionals is liable to be punished with imprisonment up to five years, and a fine up to Rs 2 lakh.

This offence may be compounded by the victim with the permission of the court.

In case an act of violence against a healthcare service personnel causes grievous harm, the punishment for the person committing the offence can go up to 7-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh.

These offences will be cognisable and non-bailable.

"I would also like to reiterate that a close watch be kept on any objectionable content in social media which may exacerbate such situations. Concerted efforts should be made through posters in hospitals, social media, etc. to emphasise the valuable contribution being made by doctors and other healthcare personnel in the fight against COVID-19," Ajay Bhalla wrote.

The home secretary stated that the letter has been written due to the security concerns relating to healthcare establishments and professionals. He also mentioned the central government's prior advisories sent on April 27, 2021 and June 9, 2021 over the same.

He pointed that in the earlier advisories, various remedial measures were recommended to check recurrence of such incidents, including adequate security at healthcare facilities, especially at Covid-19 designated hospitals along with controlled and restricted access to the premises.

The other suggestions include facilitation centres at the entry point to provide information as well as sharing of authenticated information regarding medical resources with public through website, helpline, etc., deployment of quick response police teams at vulnerable locations with effective communication and security gadgets and effective local-level medical intervention along with well-equipped centralized control room for monitoring and quick response, etc.

"Further, I would request that States and Union Territories may take these measures on priority and proactively engage with members of the medical fraternity to assuage their concerns," he wrote.