20 May 2023 • Earlier this week, the Kerala cabinet approved an ordinance amending the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2012 for ensuring more protection to healthcare personnel. The amendment has been brought in following the murder of house surgeon Dr Vandana Das at Kottarakara taluk hospital by a man brought there for treatment by police on May 10.

• Those attacking healthcare institutions, damaging properties or equipment and those who instigate such violence will invite imprisonment of six months to a maximum of five years and a fine from Rs 50,000 to a maximum of Rs 2 lakh under the new law.
• It provides for a maximum punishment of up to seven years' imprisonment and a fine up to Rs 5 lakh for attacks on healthcare workers
• The cases registered under this Act will be probed by a police officer of circle inspector rank or above.

Health minister Veena George said the ordinance will come up for discussion in the next assembly session and the government is ready to make further changes to the law if there is any such demand.

Source: TOI | Read full story