Lok Sabha Question No. 882 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-29
Subject: Violence against Medical Professionals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 882 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH NOVEMBER, 2024

## VIOLENCE AGAINST MEDICALPROFESSIONALS

## 882. SMT. KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the rising incidents of violence against medical professionals in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any plans to introduce/amend any legislation for ensuring the safety and protection of medical professionals from such violence;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (e) the number of incidents of violence against medical professionals in the country during the last 10 years, year-wise: and
- (f) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to improve the safety of healthcare providers in both public and private sectors in the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) to (e): The data and details of incidents of violence against medical professionals in the country are not maintained centrally.

As per Constitutional provisions, 'Health' and 'Law & Order' are State subjects. Therefore, it is the primary responsibility of the concerned State/ Union Territory to take note of events and eventualities for taking appropriate action to prevent violence against healthcare professionals. It needs to be dealt with suitably by the State/ Union Territory under provisions in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 so that medical professionals discharge their professional pursuits without fear of violence.

Many States have already enacted laws to address violence against healthcare professionals. Most of the State laws cover minor offences and prescribe punishment for them. The major offences/ heinous crimes are adequately covered under BNS, 2023. As the State laws have adequate provisions to address day-to-day minor offences and serious offences can be addressed by BNS, 2023, a separate Central law to deal with offenses against healthcare professionals is not required.

(f): After recent incident of alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) issued advisory to all Central Government Hospitals/Institutes, All India Institutes of Medical Sciences and Medical Colleges to ensure filing of FIR by the Institutes within six hours of any incident of violence on medical professionals. All the States/UTs had also been advised by MoHFW to take immediate measures for enhancing security and providing safer working environment for medical professionals.

Taking cognizance of the alleged rape and murder incident of a trainee doctor in R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India constituted a National Task Force (NTF) for formulating effective recommendations to remedy the issues of concern pertaining to safety, working conditions and well-being of medical professionals and other cognate matters. The NTF has already submitted its report to the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India.

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