Governor signs hospital protection ordinance; strict punishment for verbally abusing health workers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Muhammad Khan signed the Hospital Protection Ordinance. Government prepared the ordinance urgently after the murder of Vandana, who was a doctor at Kottarakkara Hospital. According to this ordinance, there is an amendment to the law, which provides stricter punishment for violence, including verbal abuse, against health workers. Violence against health workers is a crime that carries a maximum sentence of seven years. The minimum sentence is six months. Medical educational institutions including nursing colleges will also come under the purview of the new ordinance.

The ordinance was issued by the cabinet meeting held on the 17th. The ordinance was brought to amend sections two and four of the Kerala Health Service Workers and Health Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2012. According to the ordinance, paramedical students, paramedical staff, security guards, managerial staff, ambulance drivers, helpers, and health workers notified in the government gazette in case of emergency will also be covered under the new law.