Doctors’ Central Working Committee Meet in Dehradun Highlights Rising Violence, Urges 7-Year Minimum Sentence for Offenders
Dehradun: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has renewed its demand for a stringent central law to combat violence against healthcare professionals, calling for such offences to be declared non-bailable with a minimum sentence of seven years. The appeal was made by IMA national president Dr Dilip Bhanushali during the association’s 233rd Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Dehradun on Saturday.
Addressing over 350 senior doctors from across the country, Bhanushali stressed that increasing attacks on doctors are creating a climate of fear, which negatively impacts the delivery of healthcare. “Doctors working in panic mode are not good for the health of society,” he said. “Our aim is to build a healthy nation supported by a safe, fair, and future-ready healthcare system.”
Call to Extend Covid-Era Law for Doctor Safety
The IMA chief also demanded the continuation of the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, enacted during the Covid-19 pandemic, which extended protection to healthcare workers. He noted that nearly 2,000 doctors had lost their lives during the pandemic, underlining the community’s sacrifices.
Current Legal Gaps Leave Doctors Vulnerable
IMA members pointed out that in many states, attacks on doctors are treated as bailable offences, carrying a maximum sentence of just three years—insufficient to deter assailants. “Rowdy elements walk out on bail the same day,” said one doctor at the meeting, urging immediate legal reform.
Recent Meeting with Home Minister Promises Hope
Dr Bhanushali revealed that an IMA delegation recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to submit a memorandum on the issue. “We were assured of empathetic and serious consideration,” he said.
He also cited the brutal rape and murder of a woman doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by medical professionals. “Despite suo motu cognisance by the Supreme Court, violence against doctors persists daily,” he said.
Eight-Point Agenda Presented at CWC Meet
Apart from violence against doctors, the IMA CWC highlighted seven other key issues:
- Opposition to ‘mixopathy’ (mixing of different systems of medicine)
- Exempting doctors from the Consumer Protection Act (CPA)
- Exempting hospitals with up to 50 beds and small clinics from the Clinical Establishments Act to reduce compliance burden
- Rationalising GST on health services, medical equipment, and life-saving drugs
- Government support for HPV vaccination
- Expanding the PCPNDT Act to include families seeking illegal sex determination, not just radiologists
- Support for the ‘Aao Gaon Chalen’ initiative encouraging rural healthcare
The CWC meeting will continue in Dehradun through Sunday.
