A Temporary Relief: Ordinance to protect Healthcare Workers against Violence

By Ikyatha Yerasala

Thanks to the infectious Corona virus, violence against healthcare workers has become more profound in India with widespread harassment and social stigma. With Government waking up with stringent action against violators, Ikyatha Yerasala stresses on the need to protect them be-yond the pandemic.

Dr. Sanjibani Panigrahi was on her way to work, just like any other day, when she was stalled by a group of neighbours, harassed and asked not to go to the hospital as she might get infected with Corona virus. The doctor from Surat then tweeted about it, post which the local MLA got involved and talked to the neighbours. But a few days later, she was in for another bout of harassment; she was stopped and accused of having COVID-19. “I ignored it and went my way. However, when one of my neighbours started shouting at me, I took out my phone and began to record him. That’s when he pushed me! Following this incident, I wrote a written complaint to the police and thankfully, the DGP of Gujarat got involved and now the harassment has stopped,” states the doctor, whose video went viral on social media.

Nationwide Assaults

Dr. Sanjibani isn’t the only medical worker to have faced the wrath of her neighbours or general public. In Meerut, there was an instance of a doctor being harassed and thrashed by his neighbors who feared that they would catch the virus from him.

There were also instances of mob violence. A mob of unruly residents attacked a group of healthcare workers in Padarayanapura in Bengaluru. Landlords and neighbours are ostracizing medical professionals and asking them to vacate their homes.

In Indore, where the number of COVID cases are high, Dr. Trupti Kadtare and Dr. Zakiya Sayed, who went to Tatpatti Bakhal to screen suspected COVID-19 patients were pelted with stones, but the brave ladies went back to work despite the attacks. A mob of 100 people chased the health workers with sticks and stones after which seven people were arrested.

But the most mortifying and heartbreaking case that was reported was of Dr. Simon Hercules, a neurosurgeon who succumbed to the virus. The doctor could not even find dignity in death as when his body was taken to one cemetery, a mob made them leave and he was then taken to another cemetery where a huge crowd of protestors attacked the ambulance, his colleagues, etc., with sticks and stones. The colleagues had to go back to the cemetery at night to dig a grave by themselves to bury Dr. Simon.

Dr. Sanjibani Panigrahi

Government passes Ordinance

At a time when healthcare workers are saving the world and ought to be treated with utmost respect, they seem to be facing the wrath of the general public and are being stigmatized in India. While the fear of COVID-19 is undeniably justified, there’s absolutely no justification for the violence and lack of respect that’s being directed towards medical professionals. With an alarming increase in attacks on frontline workers, the IMA had stated: ‘It is a matter of great concern that these doctors who had died in their line of duty be treated shabbily and in such an uncivilised manner.’ The association even decided to conduct a protest and vigil called White Alert. On the day of the proposed vigil, the Union Cabinet approved an ordinance proposing new amendments to the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, post which the protest was cancelled. PM Narendra Modi too tweeted about the new change. Attacking healthcare workers is now a non-bailable offence which may cause imprisonment ranging from 6 months to 7 years and fine up to Rs 5 Lac. Although the amendment is being welcomed by the medical fraternity, they’re still apprehensive about what will happen post the pandemic.

Too much Information and Misinformation

Dr. Harjit Singh Bhatti, National President, Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum, and Senior Resident of Internal Medicine at Manipal Hospital

Violence against doctors is not limited to emergency situations; it happened before the pandemic and hence may continue to happen post this crisis. While looking into the reasons that drive the public to behave unprofessionally towards medical professionals, it’s obvious that fear is what makes them do this. But what leads to their ignorance? Dr. Harjit Singh Bhatti, National President, Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum, and Senior Resident of Internal Medicine at Manipal Hospital, has been actively calling for protection of healthcare professionals, regularly posting messages on social media about attacks on frontline workers. He elaborates the reasons that could’ve contributed to this pandemic-induced violence, “There’s a lack of awareness amongst the general public– they don’t understand the transmission of COVID-19, resulting in confusion and apprehension which further leads to attack on doctors. When the public spots healthcare workers, they consider us to be sources of infection, and hence react in an unpredictable manner. Also, there’s a lot of misinformation, thanks to WhatsApp forwards and media houses.” He also goes on to add that inadequate PPEs is another reason that has caused apprehensions about the medical community as healthcare workers aren’t protected properly. “This thinking is strengthened by TV channels which sensationalise infections of healthcare workers and hospitals. And of course, there’s poor public healthcare infrastructure: Patients get enraged at the lack of resources and attack doctors because they’re the face of Government in front of them,” he rues.

We need a Permanent Solution

With decades of violence against doctors, a large number of medical professionals have the same question– will they be protected even after the COVID-19 crisis ends? “The amendment has been made in the Epidemic Diseases Act, so will the protection of health staff last only during the COVID-19 pandemic? What happens during the next pandemic? The question of security of medical professionals is raised not only by IMA, but by every medical professional in individual capacity as we risk violent behaviour by patients and relatives many a times especially during emergency duties. The Government's move is appreciable, but we demand a strong Central Protection Law to ensure safety of health staff during normal times too,” says Dr. Faiz Abbas Abidi, a junior doctor who personally knows doctors who were asked to vacate their apartments.

Dr. Singh feels that the new ordinance is a positive step for the healthcare system, but if the causal problems are not solved, the violence will not cease. “Severity of punishment can never replace the need for good governance and quality services. Also, the law applies only for COVID-19, which leaves us wondering as to what will happen after this pandemic. We want a permanent strong law rather than temporary relief,” he reiterates.