THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS, Tamil Nadu, Published:21st June 2015 06:00 AM
PUDUCHERRY: The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Puducherry has mounted pressure on the Puducherry government for enacting a legislation, Medicare Service Personnel and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, through an ordinance for according immediate protection to healthcare workers and hospital properties. This is against the backdrop of growing attacks on hospitals and hospital staff.
The IMA would take out a rally on June 27 from JIPMER to Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Post Graduate Institute (IGGGH & PGI) in which doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, technicians and healthcare workers in government as well as private hospitals and medical colleges would participate. At the end of the rally a memorandum would be submitted to the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary urging the government to bring in the ordinance.
Citing such legislations enacted by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi in 2008, Orissa, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh and Karnataka in 2009, and subsequently Kerala in 2012, it is urgently required to be enacted in Puducherry, IMA – Puducherry president Dr G Sreeramulu, General Secretary Dr G Srinivasan and Vice-president Dr A Manicajothi said at a press conference on Saturday. It covers registered medical practitioners, working in medicare institutions, registered nurses, medical students, nursing students ,practical workers employed and working in medicare service institutions.
The Act will ensure that any act of violence against a duty doctor, a hospital or its staff would invite punishment with imprisonment for a period up to 10 years and with fine, which may extend up to five lakh rupees. The major highlight of the Act is that any offence committed under the section shall be cognisable and non-bailable.
For the last 10 years, IMA has been urging the government on the need for such a legislation in Puducherry, but it has still not materialised. Even JIPMER Faculty Association (JFA) , JIPMER Resident Doctor’s Association ( JRDA) and JIPMER Staff Nurses Development Welfare Association (JSNDWA) has also petitioned the government in April seeking such a legislation.
Citing the recent ransacking of JIPMER ICU and emergency care on April 14, IGGGH & PGI in July 2013, and Krishna Nursing Home on June 17, the IMA representatives said that such incidents are growing and need to be prevented.
Condemning the attack on Krishna Nursing Home and forcing closure of the hospital, they said that the death of the 20-year-old patient was unfortunate. The patient was brought in a very critical state, and he collapsed and died within minutes of starting treatment. He was dehydrated, there was fluid deprivation and he vomited when brought. No injection was given to the patient as alleged by relatives, which they presumed to be the cause of death, said the IMA office bearers. Unable to come to terms with the death, they damaged hospital properties and closed the door of the hospital. This act has put into risk not only the hospital staff but also other patients admitted to the hospital, especially the patients who had undergone surgery, they said.
If the relatives had any grievance against a doctor or hospital, they should take it up legally, said the IMA team.
