Lok Sabha Question No. 960 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Specialists Manhandled during the Pandemic
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Singh, Kaushal Kishore, Arjunlal Meena, P.P. Chaudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 960 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th SEPTEMBER, 2020

## SPECIALISTS MANHANDL ED DURING THE PANDEM IC

## 960. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE:

SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of cases of specialists from Delhi being bothered/manhandled on account of COVID - 19 related issues during pande mic;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to mitigate the problems faced by doctors;
- (c) the number of PPE units and N95 masks procured by Government and the expenditure incurred for the same;
- (d) the quality of covers and PPE packs disbursed by Government run and State run clinics and isolate focuses;
- (e) the number of wellbeing experts who contracted COVID - 19, State/UT -wise; and
- (f) whether Government constituted an enquiry to determine the reasons and slips by in the method, if so, the detail s thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) : The Govt. of NCT of Delhi has intimated that no such information is available them.
- (b) : The following are some of the steps taken to mitigate the problems faced by doctors: -
- (i) Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 has recently been amended by an Ordinance promulgated on 22.04.2020 to provide safety to the healthcare service personnel who are at the fore the fight against Covid - 19 pandemic. S tringent provisions laid down in the Ordinance to act as effective deterrent are as under: -
-  making acts of violence cognizable and non - bailable offence;
-  commission or abetment of acts of violence shall be punished with imprisonment fo term which shall not be less than three months, but which may extend to five ye and with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees, but which may e to two lakh rupees;
-  for causing grievous hurt, punishment shall be with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months, but which may extend to seven years, and with which  shall  not  be  less  than  one  lakh  rupees,  but  which  may  extend  to  five rupees;
-  in  addition,  the  person  convicted  shall  also  be  liable  to  pay  compens ation  to  the victim, and twice the amount of fair market value of the damaged property or the caused, as determined by the Court;

(ii) Further, Ministry of Home Affairs has requested State Governments / UT Administrations to appoint Nodal Officers at State / UT level and at District level, who would be availab 24*7 to redress any safety issue on the functioning of medical professionals. They also take immediate and strict action in case any incident of violence takes place.

In addition to thi s, States / UTs have been requested to widely publicize details preventive  measures  taken  and  appointment  of  Nodal  Officers,  amongst  the  medica fraternity, including the local chapters of the IMA, as well as to the public at large complianceat ground level.  A copy of the D.O. letter dt. 22.04.2020 issued by the Secretary, in this regard, can be accessed at the following link: - https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/DO%20Lr.%20Dt.%2022.4.2020%20to%20Chief %20Secretaries%20Administrators%20DGPs%20reg.%20security%20to%20healthca re%20p rofessionals.pdf

(c) & (d) : So far around 109 domestic manufacturers have cleared quality tests  and number of PPE units and N95 masks procured by Government and the expenditure incurred for the same is as under:

|              | Quantity    | Expenditure (Rs. in crore)   |
|--------------|-------------|------------------------------|
| N - 95       | 4,59,09,199 | 491.15                       |
| PPE Coverall | 1,92,22,688 | 1,963.41                     |

(e): Public  health  and  hospitals  being  a  State  subject,  such  data  is  not  maintai Central level.

(f) : No  such  enquiry  has  been  constituted.    However,  a  number  of  advisories/  SoP guidelines have been issued to ensure safety of healthcare professionals.