MHA opposition puts bill to check violence against doctors on backburner
A bill drafted by the health ministry to check violence against doctors and other healthcare professionals has been put on the backburner with the Home Ministry stating that there was no need for a separate law in this regard, officials said.
The Health Services Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill, 2019, sought to punish people who assault on-duty doctors and other healthcare professionals by imposing a jail term of up to 10 years.
The call for a comprehensive central legislation to put a check on violence against healthcare professionals gained momentum against the backdrop of rising instances of such cases and damage to the property of clinical establishments across the country.
The health ministry had intended to introduce the bill during the winter session of Parliament, which ended on December 13.
The Law Ministry had approved the draft Bill, but the Home Ministry, during inter-ministerial consultations over it, stated that .