Union Minister Prakash Javadekar announced on Wednesday that the Cabinet has approved an ordinance to protect healthcare workers form violence. Those found guilty of attacking healthcare workers will face imprisonment from 6 months to 7 years and fine.
He said “We are bringing in an ordinance to protect doctors and healthcare workers. Attack on doctors will be non-cognizable offence from now onwards.”
The same was confirmed by Director General of Press Information Bureau. He said the Cabinet has approved promulgation of ordinance to amend the Epidemic Disease Act 1897, making such acts of violence as cognizable and non-bailable offence and to provide compensation for injuries to health care service personnel or for causing damage or loss to the prorperty.
Minister Javadekar also said that if damage is done to the vehicles or clinics of healthcare workers, then a compensation amounting to twice the market value of the damaged property will be taken from the person/people found guilty.
Dr.Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister tweeted about the approved ordinance in Twitter.
