Relevance : GS Paper II
Introduction
Violence against doctors and other healthcare providers have been reported in recent months.
Govt. step in this direction
- has drafted a legislation to address this issue.
- The legislation covers a broad range of healthcare providers.
- Stiff punishments have been proposed, ranging from six months to 10 years.
- Heavy monetary fines, too, have been proposed, ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 10,00,000.
How are health care personnel are different from other victims of violence?
When a healthcare provider is assaulted, the victims of crime also include other patients who are being cared for by that person
Not just an Indian issue
- Several other countries have reported violence against health personnel.
- For example, in China — 27 assaults per hospital were reported in 2012.
Factors responsible for violence against healthcare personnel
- The multi-factorial causes of this problem must be recognised.
- The crowded public system is under-resource and under-staffed.
- Poor access and variable quality of care arouse dissatisfaction.
- The private sector attracts ire for poor quality care or exorbitant costs and exploitative practices.
Way forward
- Developing an adequately resourced healthcare system.
- A clear explanation of a patient’s condition on admission.
- Developing effective and empathetic communication skills.
- Law should not seem to be soft or ineffective.
- Healthcare providers must speak up against violence of any kind and not just when they are the victims.
Conclusion
The 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is a good time for us all to work together to create a non-violent society.
