On Monday, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and has requested his "intervention" to stop the assault on doctors and the spread of fake news related to the COVID-19 vaccination drive. The IMA is seeking PM Modis intervention to resolve IMAs petitions and to ensure "optimum milieu" for medical professionals and staff to work without fear.

The IMA said that the medical fraternity has lost hundreds of doctors in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. They are deeply hurt to see the rising incidents of physical violence against medical and healthcare professionals in the country. The incidents were causing mental trauma among the medical practitioners.

The IMA citing the attack on a doctor in Assam has sought PM Modis urgent intervention to stop the ongoing physical and mental attack on doctors.

The IMA also said that those who are involved in such terrible crimes should be punished and also create an effective warning for other antisocial elements indulging in attacking any healthcare professionals. It demanded that the doctors who have died due to COVID-19 should be recognised as Covid Martyrs, accepting their sacrifice.

Their families also should be accordingly supported by the government. IMA is thankful for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana scheme in which the insurance benefits are extended to such families. However, they have brought to the notice that due to many obstacles in the procedural implementation of the Scheme, out of 754 doctors, families of only 168 doctors were able to apply under this Scheme. IMA requests to create an effective mechanism for identifying and verifying all these victims.

The IMA also said it was painful to see constant attempts by certain people to spread disbelief and misinformation about vaccines.

Any person(s) spreading misinformation against the vaccination drive that is meant to fight against the battle of COVID-19 pandemic, should be booked and punished in accordance with law. Under the related provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the Indian Penal Code.

Source: India Today