President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has issued another ordinance today. The President’s Office has issued a notice stating that the president has issued the Security of the Health Workers and Health Organisations Act, 2066 (2010) amendment ordinance on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.
The new ordinance is expected to be in favour of hospitals and health workers. As incidents of health workers being beaten up and hospitals being vandalised have increased of late the government drafted this new ordinance to take stern action against such activities.
The amendment has strict provisions against persons attacking health workers and vandalising health institutions under various pretexts. The government had earlier said that it wanted to issue the new ordinance so as to provide safety and security to health workers so that they can perform their duties without any fear.
The ordinance has a provision of levying a fine of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh and imprisonment of two to five years if any person is found guilty of vandalising a hospital.
Similarly, those found guilty of attacking health workers will be liable to pay a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh and could face imprisonment of up to three years. For those creating obstacles in hospitals, or abusing health workers the fine is up to Rs 1 lakh with imprisonment of up to one year.
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