Will push Centre for stringent action against violence on doctors: Minister
Aman Sood
Tribune News Service
Patiala, August 18
The Punjab government has backed the doctors’ demand for making any attack or ‘assaulting medical professionals a non-bailable offence’ with a minimum six-year prison sentence. The announcement has come a day before the scheduled meeting of the Punjab Health Minister with the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Doctors’ Association and the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which is scheduled for Monday to discuss steps pertaining to the safety of health professionals.
The Punjab Minister of Health, Family Welfare and Medical Education, Dr Balbir Singh, today affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of medical professionals in the state. Speaking to The Tribune, the Health Minister said, “We will be holding talks with the Central Government to push for strict action against any kind of violence against doctors.”
Dr Balbir Singh said he would be taking up the issue with the Prime Minister and the Union Health Minister to urge them to “convene a meeting of Health Ministers of all the states” to discuss and implement stricter measures to protect medical professionals. He said, “The need to enforce the resolution passed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in 2019, advocating for a new law that would make assaulting medical professionals a non-bailable offence with a minimum six-year prison sentence, will be taken up.”
The Health Minister said he would hold a meeting with the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Doctors’ Association and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday to discuss steps to be taken to ensure the safety of medical professionals. He said, “The Punjab Government is determined to implement robust security measures to prevent any such tragic incidents involving healthcare workers in the future.”
Later, during a visit to Government Rajindra Hospital, the Health Minister met with doctors who were participating in the nationwide protest following the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor from the Kolkata medical college. The Health Minister expressed his sorrow for the victim and joined the protest by symbolically drawing blood from his finger and placing it on his apron, signifying his solidarity with the medical community.
The Health Minister, Dr Balbir Singh, also called for severe punishment for those responsible for such crimes. He suggested that swift and stringent action should be taken against those responsible, including the death penalty.