Delhi Medical Association Moves Supreme Court For Prevention Of Violence Against Medical Professionals

The petition states that at present, there is no substantial central legislation for protection of medical professionals, etc. It highlights violent attacks on doctors and health care workers since 2017 across 28 states in the country.

In Andhra Pradesh alone, 21 cases of assault on doctors were reported by the IMA in 2016, the petition highlights.

The plea therefore seeks guidelines to have a 24X7 security system in place to ensure safe working environment for the said category of persons. In this regard it is suggested that the health department of every State Government may develop a distress alert software though which the vulnerable medical professionals can send SOS signal to the nearest Police stations.

"Evolve an effective and balanced rescue mechanism system for both the health workers & the patients (in the form of help desk ) in every healthcare/ clinical establishments and facilities to intervene immediately to address the problem/ dispute so as to prevent any unavoidable dispute or disturbances resulting to such kind of assault, violence or public lynching," the plea stated.

It also seeks adoption of adequate preventive, punitive and compensative measures to prevent any kind of assault against medical professionals, etc. Further, the Petitioner has urged the Top Court to formulate a mechanism to ensure expeditious hearing and speedy trials of such kind of violence, assault cases against Medicare Service Personals and Healthcare workers and effective implementation of existing legislations in letter & spirit.

The petition further seeks guidelines for payment of compensation by Centre or State Government, to the family of such healthcare professionals, who died on account of such violence/ assault.

The present Writ petition has been drafted and filed by Advocate on Record Sneha Kalita with Advocate Bristi Rekha Mahanta.