THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The law has been in place since 2012 to protect health workers and hospitals from attacks but still the doctors are not safe. Attacks on doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, and medical-nursing students are punishable with imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of Rs 50,000. Even if this law is imposed, it is common practice to save the accused by delaying the trial and not filing the charge sheet on time. Even after the High Court ordered the police to register a case and arrest the accused within an hour of the attack, nothing changed.

Attacks increasing

From June 2020 to June 2021, there were 140 incidents of violence against doctors and hospitals. There were 138 cases in a year and a half afterward. Out of the 82 cases that were tried, the accused were convicted in only two cases.

There is no follow-up on the government's announcement of comprehensive legislation for the safety of hospital staff as well.

New instructions

• Make hospitals and 500 meters around them a safety zone
• Imposing non-bailable charges against criminals and increasing the punishment
• Ban excessive crowding
• FIR within an hour
• Fast Track Court, Special Prosecutor
• Complaint mechanism about hospital services.

Demands of doctors

• Police aid posts in hospitals
• CCTV surveillance
• Charge sheet should be filed within 30 days
• The case should be settled within one year
• We need more powerful laws

Crime and Punishment

• Assaulting health workers: 3 years imprisonment and half a lakh fine
• Destruction of hospital property: Imprisonment up to 3 years and fine of half a lakh
• In case of destruction of equipment: Double the cost of equipment as compensation
• Obstructing hospital: 2 years imprisonment (IPC-353)
• Indecency with health workers: 2 years imprisonment
• Trespassing in hospital: 6 months imprisonment

A non-bailable offense, but…

All offenses are non-bailable offenses under the Health and Safety (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2012. They are not charged in most cases of violence. Even if it is imposed, the defendants will be granted bail without issuing a charge sheet within 90 days.