Lok Sabha Question No. 2278 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-10
Subject: Medal for Health Workers
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2278 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2021

## MEDAL FOR HEALTH WORKERS

## 2278. SHRI DHARMENDRA KASHYAP:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to institute any award/medal for health workers and other frontline  people  to  recognize  their  distinguished  service  in  the  work  against  COVID-19 pandemic;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the data of such health workers/frontline workers honored by Government previously?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (DR BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (c) Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has taken a number of steps to improve wellbeing of healthcare workers managing COVID-19. Few of the actions taken in this regard include:

-  With  the  launch  of  COVID-19  vaccination  initiative  on  16 th January  2021,  Healthcare workers  were  identified  as  one  of  the  first  priority  group.  State  Governments/  UT administrations have been repeatedly urged to ensure that the medical professionals engaged in Covid related work are suitably vaccinated.
-  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  provided  guidelines  on  Infection  Prevention  and Control practices to the State Governments to minimize the risk of infection to healthcare workers.
-  For high-risk exposures, healthcare workers are provided with a quarantine period initially for one week and thereafter taking the profile of the health worker a decision to be taken for further  period  of  one  week.  An  advisory  to  this  effect  for  managing  health  care  workers

working in COVID and Non-COVID areas of the hospital was issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 18 th June 2020.

-  MoHFW on 18 th June 2020, as per directions issued by Hon'ble Supreme Court in a batch of writ  petitions  and  in  exercise  of  powers  delegated  under  section  10(2)  of  the  Disaster Management Act, 2005, States/UTs have been directed to ensure that salaries of doctors and healthcare workers during COVID-19 related duties shall be released on time.
-  Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in consultation with Department of Personnel Training has also directed State Governments to consider quarantine period of healthcare workers as 'on duty'.
-  Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has also issued direction to the Chief Secretary of the States/Union Territories on provision for accommodation facilities for quarantine of healthcare workers. States/UTs were also advised to explore various rostering options.
-  In  the  context  of  COVID-19,  the  Epidemic  Diseases  (Amendment)  Ordinance,  2020  was promulgated on 22 nd April 2020. Further this ordinance was brought before the parliament has been passed and notified on 29 th September 2020. The amendment provides for safety and security of Health care Service Personnel (HSPs) from acts of violence.
-  Life insurance benefits (Rs. 50 lakhs to 22.12 lakh healthcare providers) are provided under Pradhan  Mantri  Garib  Kalyan  Package  (PMGKP):  Insurance  Scheme  for  Health  Workers Fighting  COVID-19.  The  benefits  under  the  said  scheme  have  been  extended  w.e.f.  21 st October 2021 for a further period of 180 days.

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