Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government will pass a law to ensure the safety of health workers amid growing protests over the stabbing of a woman doctor while at work in a government hospital. A comprehensive Hospital Protection Act is being drafted to ensure protection for all employees in the health sector.
Sections will be included where violence in hospitals is punishable by six months to seven years of rigorous imprisonment. The punishment will also increase according to the severity of the crime. The Indian Penal Code provides for the maximum punishment for murder and attempted murder.
Sections are included to punish verbal abuse of healthcare workers. Apart from doctors, nurses, medical nursing students and paramedical staff, ministerial staff and security personnel will also be covered under the new law. The new law also adds a section to collect compensation for damage caused to hospital buildings and equipment.
Also read: Kerala doctors continue protest against killing of medico Vandana Das
Speedy investigation and filing of charge sheets will be ensured when such violations are reported. Fast-track courts are also being considered to ensure maximum speedy punishment for those involved in such crimes. The government is also examining the demands given by various employee organisations in the health sector as part of the new law.
The home, health and law secretaries discuss the provisions at various levels. The Law Department is considering the formulation of the Hospital Protection Act. It has been decided to introduce the law as an ordinance. After the murder of Dr Vandana Das, the doctors, who went on strike, had been assured by the government of speedy legislation.
Based on this, the doctors called off the strike. The government is also considering the demand to name new law after Vandana Das. Dr Vandana Das was stabbed to death by an assailant while working at the Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital on May 10.
