The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has dumped a proposed draft legislation that sought a sentence of up to five-year-jail-term and a fine of up to ₹5 lakh for violence against healthcare workers and destruction of healthcare institutions.
This was revealed in reply to a query under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. K.V. Babu, Kannur-based ophthalmologist and RTI activist, had filed a plea with the Ministry on July 5 seeking the status of the draft legislation, the Healthcare Service Personnel & Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill, 2019.
He had also sought copies of all the comments received on it from the stakeholders, copies of all the communication between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Home Affairs, and file notings, if any. The reply given on July 20 was: “It is informed that it was decided not to pursue the draft legislation further.” Copy of file noting and letters could be obtained after payment of the requisite fee, the reply added.
