Violence against Doctors in India!

Violence against Doctors in India! Why are we not talking about this?

Nandini Parikh

On June 7, 2021, Health Workers were allegedly assaulted by patient kin who lost the battle against COVID-19 at The Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Manipur. Also, Covid ICU Ward was vandalized by the relatives of the patients.

On June 1, 2021, The relatives of a Covid patient who had died, purportedly owing to an oxygen shortage, ruthlessly hit, kicked, and slammed a doctor at a coronavirus facility in Assam’s Hojai, roughly 140 kilometers from Guwahati.

Are these incidents new to us? NO,

On April 1, 2020, during a visit to a locality in Indore to test residents for Coronavirus infection, healthcare personnel and civic officials were beaten up by furious people. Two women doctors were hurt in the attack, according to NDTV.

On April 15, 2020, when a team of doctors and medical personnel arrived in Nawabganj, Moradabad, to identify primary contact with a deceased COVID-19 patient, a mob threw stones at the ambulance and medical personnel.

The list of such incidents can continue for a long. Since the pandemic began, we have seen several videos and photos of assaults transpiring on doctors across the country. But what are we doing about it? It is disheartening that violence against doctors and other members of the medical profession has barely made any headlines.

We are fighting against the deadly pandemic for more than a year now. During the initial lockdown, when ordinary citizens were safe inside their homes, we had doctors doing hours of shifts in the hospital – a high-risk zone. Wearing the most uncomfortable PPE Kits, without food and water, till date, they are working day and night to save our lives. During the second wave, the hospitals were overburdened with patients.

crop doctor with stethoscope preparing for surgery in hospital — Photo by RF._.studio on Pexels.com

Our healthcare workers went through severe physical and mental trauma. Unfortunately, 624 doctors died due to Covid-19 in the second wave, and 748 doctors lost their precious lives in the initial wave of the pandemic as per the Indian Medical Association data. Doctors are fighting no less than a war against this virus. But what we are giving them in return is shameful.

Attacks on healthcare professionals are not only about the pandemic, it is a deep-rooted problem that is continuing for years, but nobody pays attention to it. According to an IMA (Indian Medical Association) research, about 75% of doctors in India have faced some type of violence during their careers. Moreover, in nearly half of the occurrences of violence reported in intensive care units (ICUs), the patient’s relatives were actively involved in 70% of the incidents.

On April 2, 2020, the government introduced an ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, to make acts of violence against health personnel treating Covid-19 patients a non-bailable offence punishable by a fine and a sentence of up to seven years in prison.

The commission or abetment of such violence will be punishable by imprisonment for three months to five years, in addition to a penalty of Rs 50,000 to Rs 2,000,000 under the proposed Act. Furthermore, if you cause grave harm, you will be imprisoned for six months to seven years and fined between Rs 1,00,000 and Rs 5,00,000.

photo of doctor saving patients life — Photo by Vidal Balielo Jr. on Pexels.com

Though there are strict laws in place, there have been an alarming number of attacks on healthcare professionals continuing every day across India. It is high time that we, together as a country, collectively fight against this silent epidemic of assault against healthcare professionals.

Any type of violence or assault on our frontline warriors is unacceptable and should be condemned by every citizen of India. The only thing that they deserve is Respect and Gratitude.

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