PESHAWAR: The provincial government has decided to enact a law to ensure safety of health workers and patients in view of the increasing incidents of violence in hospitals.

“Yes, we are working on the bill for protection of the healthcare providers. The proposed law will be put before the cabinet for approval after which it would be submitted to provincial assembly to make it an Act,” Health Secretary Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah told Dawn.

The latest spree of acts of violence in the hospitals against the healthcare providers has prompted the government to renew efforts to pass the long-delayed piece of legislation, according to officials.

They said that the government was satisfied with the performance of the healthcare providers, who not only ensured better services to the patients but also didn’t observe any strike or protest during the Covid-19 pandemic despite violence.

Officials said that healthcare providers encountered at least half a dozen incidents of violence during the last two months but they continued their work to ensure unhindered treatment of the Covid-19 patients.

Acts of violence in health facilities in recent past prompt govt to renew efforts for legislation

The Provincial Doctors Association, Young Doctors Association, Nursing Association and Paramedical Association had long been demanding enactment of a law to protect them against violence during duty hours, they said.

Two months ago, the government decided to implement it in the shape of an ordinance but it was again delayed and two days back a committee was formed to make recommendations for the passage of the law from the assembly, officials said.

In this connection, a meeting of representatives of health, labour, law and Ushr and Zakat departments was held wherein they decided to go through the document and make recommendations for its earlier passage from the assembly.

“The bill, which seeks to protect health workers, patients and their attendants from violence and prevent loss to the property, has already been vetted by the law department and now the committee would make a final decision,” said officials.

They said that few observations raised by law department in the past were already cleared and now it needed to be placed before the assembly.

Health Minister Taimur Salim Khan has also directed the health department to speed up the legislation and give an end to the series of violent acts committed against health workers.

The proposed law makes any act of violence against health workers or damage or loss to property in a healthcare service institution punishable and any offender shall be punishable with imprisonment for a period, which may extend to three years, and with fine, which may extend to Rs50,000.

Additionally, the violator of the law shall also be liable to pay to the healthcare service institution a compensation of twice the amount of purchase price of medical equipment damaged and the loss caused to the property as may be determined by the court trying the offence.

In case of offender’s failure to pay the compensation, the said sum shall be recovered as if it is an arrear of land revenue due from him. Any offence committed shall be cognisable and non-bailable, according to the proposed law.

The law also makes it obligatory upon the hospitals to provide full reports of treatment to the patients.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2020