Thiruvananthapuram: The cabinet meeting held today will approve the ordinance amending the Hospital Protection Act to ensure the safety of employees working in the healthcare sector. Sections will be amended so that the perpetrators of violence against healthcare workers will be punished with imprisonment of six months up to seven years. It will also include provisions of law also regarding assault and abuse against healthcare professionals.
As the ordinance comes into effect, all medical institutions in the state including nursing colleges will be protected by the Act. The organizations of doctors have demanded to give Dr Vandana’s name to the amendment.
It was also demanded that the security personnel, clerical employees and cleaning staff should be included under the spectrum of healthcare workers. It is under discussion to include security staff and those who come for training under the purview of the Act. The maximum punishment for attacking healthcare workers in Kerala is likely to be raised to 7 years of imprisonment rather than 3 years. The minimum punishment will be six months of imprisonment. If an attack is reported, the trial will be completed within one year after completing the investigation. Discussions are also being held to charge compensation up to six times the cost of equipment if it is damaged. The Legal department is yet to examine the amendment.
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