Joint protests of IMA and KGMOA in Pathanamthitta city on Wednesday.
Thiruvananthapuram: In the wake of recent assaults on doctors, the punishment for attacking healthcare workers/facilities in Kerala is likely to be raised to 5 years of imprisonment. Currently, it is set at 3 years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 50,000.
The doctors’ associations in the state are demanding stringent action against rising attacks on healthcare personnel/facilities.
After considering the recommendations made by the associations, a meeting presided by Chief Secretary VP Joy has directed the Law Department to prepare a draft ordinance regarding the same.
The draft ordinance will be finalized after holding discussions of health and law departments, and will be submitted in front of the cabinet next week. Opinions of legal experts will also be taken into consideration.
Earlier, a law was brought in to protect healthcare workers and facilities in the state during the tenure of UDF government in 2012. VS Sivakumar was the Health Minister then.
It should be noted that the law brought in by the Tamil Nadu government in 2008 stipulates imprisonment up to 10 years for attacks on healthcare workers/institutions.
Recommendations
- Amendments shall be made to the 4th sub section of the 14 th section of current law.
- Include ministerial workers and security personnel also under the spectrum of healthcare workers along with doctors, nurses, nursing students and paramedical staff.
- Double the cost shall be recovered from offenders who destroy hospital infrastructure. If they failed to pay the fines, the amount should be extracted through revenue recovery.
- Strict laws have to be put in place to prevent the offenders from escaping police custody.
- Investigation shall be completed within a month and the punishment shall be declared within a year through special courts.
RELATED STORIES
.jpg?$p=246738b&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
.jpg?$p=d64a5f4&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
.jpg?$p=11c1bb2&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
.jpg?$p=298ab5c&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
.jpg?$p=53757ec&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
.jpg?$p=bf64b86&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
.jpg?$p=89c7c61&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
.jpg?$p=9bc853b&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
.jpg?$p=11c1bb2&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
.jpg?$p=298ab5c&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
.jpg?$p=53757ec&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
