Indian Medical Association writes to Health Minister JP Nadda, demands Act to protect doctors
Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Wednesday wrote a letter to Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J P Nadda requesting an Act for the protection of healthcare professionals.
«We demand that the draft bill 2019 incorporating the amendment clauses of the Epidemic Diseases Amendment Act, 2020 and the Code Grey Protocol of Kerala Government 'Prevention Management of Violence against Healthcare workers' be proclaimed as an ordinance to instill confidence into the minds of the Doctors of India,» read the letter by IMA.
The letter mentioned the steps the government had already taken to ensure safety of doctors and thanked the Centre for it. However, it also highlighted that despite measures being taken, doctors continued to remain unsafe in the country. The letter further mentioned four doctors in the last 12 who lost their lives while performing their duty.
The letter also said that the Supreme Court entrusting a National Task Force (NTF) with the action required for security and safety of healthcare professional including doctors, the working and living conditions of resident doctors and the incident at RG Kar Medical College was encouraging.
On August 9, a female resident doctor was brutally raped and murdered inside the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College. The IMA has since been on strike and has suspended OPD services. Several doctors and healthcare professionals across the country have staged protests demanding justice for the victim.
The Calcutta High Court handed over
