West Bengal: The horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata has sparked outrage across the country and protests among doctors and students. The incident at RG Kar Medical College has drawn attention to the violence and harassment faced by doctors in an overburdened healthcare system. Following the tragic incident, there have been widespread demands for a transparent investigation and better safety measures for doctors on call. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has urged the Health Ministry to address the issue by implementing a central law designed to protect medical workers. According to the IMA, while all 25 states have laws aimed at protecting doctors, their implementation has been found to be ineffective.
Central Protection Act for Doctors
The “Prevention of Violence against Healthcare Professionals and Clinical Establishments Bill, 2022”, commonly known as the “Central Protection Act for Doctors”, was introduced in the Lok Sabha two years ago. The Bill aimed to define acts of violence against doctors and establish appropriate penalties for such acts. The provisions of the Bill include definition of violent acts, prohibition of violence, establishment of cognizability and penalties, mandatory reporting of incidents, public sensitization and grievance redressal mechanism. The Bill sought to cover all healthcare workers, including registered medical practitioners, mental health practitioners, dentists, nursing professionals, medical and nursing students, allied health professionals and hospital support staff. Despite its introduction, the then Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya decided not to take the Bill forward, saying most of its objectives were already covered under the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance 2020.The tragic death of a postgraduate doctor found with injuries and evidence of rape on August 9 at RG Kar Medical College has sparked widespread protests. The medical community and the public have expressed their outrage and demanded immediate action to improve safety conditions for healthcare workers.
