Soon, 2 years jail, Rs 50000 fine for attacking doctors in Jharkhand
Ranchi: In stringent law on violence against doctors, any person found guilty of assault on medical professionals, and vandalising government and private hospital properties will invite a jail term of up to 2 years and a monetary fine of up to Rs 50,000, confirms provisions of the new Medical Protection Bill of Jharkhand.
The draft of the bill further provides that valuation of damages to the property and the monetary fine against it would also be ascertained by the court that would adjudicate over the matter. Further, it adds that all districts would have the provision of a nodal officer who would monitor the functioning of hospitals.
On March 15, a cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren gave its nod to the bill named ‘Personnel associated with Jharkhand medical services and institutions (prevention of violence and damage to property) Bill, 2023’ which is aimed at the protection of medical professionals in Jharkhand.
Soren, after going through the Bill asked the Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto to send the bill to the select committee for proper study and give its opinion within 30 days after he noticed that as many as 30 proposals for amendment in the bill had come.
After MLAs cutting across party lines opposed to some of its provisions, the bill seeking to prevent doctors, healthcare staff and hospitals from attacks by patient parties was sent to the Select Committee.
This if for the third time that the bill was introduced in the House, but not passed, rather forwarded to to the Select Committee. The medical protection bill was introduced in 2013 and 2017 too, but it could be implemented after it was sent to select committee.
The development comes in wake of repeated demands of the medical fraternity in the state for such a law. The state had witnessed several cases of attack in hospitals involving medical professionals and family members of patients. Two such attacks happened this year in Garhwa and Dhanbad districts, leading to strikes of medical professionals in respective districts.
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In response to the draft bill, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Jharkhand and doctors, who have been demanding implementation of the Medical Protection Act in the state for a long time welcomed the bill.
“Such a law is a win-win situation for both sides, medical professionals as well as the patients. This should not be seen as detrimental to the interest of the patients,” Pradeep Singh, general secretary, Jharkhand IMA stated.
“Besides providing penal provisions, the bill also provides for certain clauses that fixes responsibility of the medical professionals and the hospital authorities,” a health department official elaborated.
“The deputy commissioner would institute a committee led by an officer, not than the rank of sub-divisional officer to probe all complaints against medical professionals and hospitals,” a government official told HT .
However, some MLAs have opposed some of the provisions of the bill and demanded that provisions for the protection of the patients’ rights should be there in the bill. Ajsu legislator Lambodar Mahto criticized the bill demanding a Patient Protection Bill and explained how dangerous the bill could be in the state where people die in government hospitals due to negligence.
According to a recent media report in The Pioneer, the not passing of bill is setback for medical fraternity in State as Jharkhand is 24th state to introduce Medical Protection Act in state.
