Centre says no to separate law to protect medicos

More than 100 days after the RG Kar episode, the Union government on Friday informed the Parliament that there is no need for a central law on violence against healthcare workers because both “health” and “law and order” are state subjects and existing laws are good enough to take care of such incidents.

Responding to a number of queries raised by the MPs in the Lok Sabha, Anupriya Patel, the minister of state for health said, “It is the primary responsibility of the concerned state/ union territory to take note of events and eventualities for taking appropriate action to prevent violence against healthcare professionals” because “health” and “law and order” are state subjects as per constitutional provisions.

Demand for a separate legislation for healthcare professionals rose sharply in the wake of the gruesome incident in Kolkata in August when a young lady doctor was raped and murdered inside R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, shocking the nation.

Many states have enacted laws to tackle violence against healthcare professionals. While such laws generally cover minor offences and propose punishments, heinous crimes are covered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023.

“As the state laws have adequate provisions to address day-to-day minor offences and serious offences can be addressed by BNS, 2023, a separate Central law to deal with offences against healthcare professionals is not required,” she said in written responses.

The minister also presented a list of suggestions that the Union Health Ministry had shared with the states in the wake of the RG Kar incident to improve the safety and security of doctors and nurses. Moreover, the ministry has asked all hospitals to file an institutional FIR within six hours of any violence on medical professionals.

The Lok Sabha members who raised the question are Sayani Ghosh (AITC), Kuldeep Indora (Cong), K Kanimozhi (DMK) and Jai Prakash (BJP). Deccan Herald