Rajya Sabha passes Epidemic Disease (Amendment) Bill to protect health workers

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The Epidemic Disease (Amendment) Bill will give protection to heath care workers
Dr Harsh Vardhan in the Rajya Sabha said a new act was needed after violence were witnessed against health workers
He said, any investigation has to be done in 30 days and punishments would have to be given within a year

Written By:Anjaly

Updated: September 18 2020 10:36:15 PM ET New Delhi, Delhi, India

The Rajya Sabha on Saturday passed the Epidemic Disease (Amendment) Bill, a provision that will give security to frontline workers battling the coronavirus pandemic, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.

The Bill was introduced by Dr Harsh Vardhan in the Upper House on Saturday to replace an ordinance issued by the government in April.

The Epidemic Disease Act, 1987, which was passed at the time of the Bubonic plague, protects health care workers in the country. The Health Minister in the Rajya Sabha, talking about the instances of violence witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic against the health workers, said the Centre acted on it and found that there is a need for a law for it.

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Talking about the new amendment in the Epidemic Disease Act, Dr Harsh Vardhan said, “Those who have tried to resolve violence against the medical community they have been punished and there is a provision that any investigation has to be done within 30 days, and all the results of the punishment they all have to be given within one year.”

The healthcare service personnel include public and clinical healthcare service providers such as doctors, nurses, paramedical workers and community health workers; any other persons empowered under the act to take measures to prevent the outbreak of the disease or spread thereof; and any persons declared as such by the state government, by notification in the official gazette.

The new act, passed in the Upper House of the Parliament on Saturday, will recognise any violence against doctors and health workers as a “cognizable and non-bailable” offence, which means the offenders can be arrested without a warrant and bail would not be granted.

The ordinance for the Epidemic Disease Act was passed in April, where Union Minister Prakash Javedkar had said the offenders can be fined anywhere between Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh. The offenders will also have to serve a prison term between three months to five years, he had said.