Kerala: In light of recent reports of increased violence against physicians and hospitals across the state, the state administration is allegedly considering amending a law that forbids assaults on healthcare personnel and carries a penalty of up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.

On March 4, a senior cardiologist in a private hospital in Kozhikode city was assaulted by a group that was accompanying a patient, despite the fact that the doctor was not involved in the patients care. Between 2021 and 22, 37 attacks on healthcare workers were documented, according to sources with the Indian Medical Association (IMA). Health Minister Dr. Veena George stated in the Assembly that 140 similar incidents had been documented between June 2020 and June 2021.

However, according to N. Sulphi, the state president of IMA, no culprits were punished as per the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions Act, which was established and implemented 11 years ago. At present, the doctors are pushing the government to change the Act to designate the area within 500 meters of a hospital as a special protection zone.

(Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/amendments-to-hospital-protection-act-likely-as-doctors-come-under-frequent-attacks-in-kerala/article66611065.ece )