Violence against doctors in endemic in India. The Supreme Court is now seeking a government response the issue following an appeal by doctors. The suit was brought by the Tamil Nadu branch of the Association of Healthcare Providers (APHI), which sought from the Centre “immediate and necessary action against the perpetrators indulging in violence against […]
doctors
Doctors’ strike in Assam following deadly tea estate assault
A statewide strike has been called in Assam by the state’s Indian Medical Association (IMA) chapter following a fatal assault on a doctor at a tea estate. The 24-hour strike will affect medical services in the state tomorrow, as doctors protest the incident which serves as a reminder of the climate of violence which enshrouds […]
Pune doctors to refuse service to abusive patients
The Pune chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has become the first in the country to refuse to treat abusive patients. The zero-tolerance policy against verbal and physical abuse comes amidst an epidemic of violence against healthcare workers across India. The IMA has suggested that as many as 75 percent of doctors in India […]
Achieving the ideal doctor-patient ratio
India could reach the doctor-patient ratio recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) within the next few years, a member of the Centre’s leading think tank Niti Aayog has said. “With the efforts of the Government of India, the country would be able to achieve the WHO norm of one physician for 1,000 population before […]
Proposed law concerning violence against doctors
The Centre has drafted legislation to tackle violence against doctors, one of the main issues facing India’s healthcare professionals. Under the law, those who commit assault against doctors and other medical workers could face a prison sentence of between three and ten years and fined up to Rs 10 lakh. In addition, healthcare workers can […]
NMC Bill signed into law: Opposition continues
Last week, President Ram Nath Kovind signed into law the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill amidst continued opposition from the medical fraternity. The NMC Bill earned approval from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha in recent weeks. Its assent by President Kovind initiated one of the biggest healthcare reforms in Indian history, with a […]
Recruiting retired doctors in Madhya Pradesh
To plug the state’s doctor shortage, the Madhya Pradesh state government is proposing recruiting retired doctors. The cabinet has approved the proposal, which seeks to address the seventy percent shortfall of doctors in the state-run healthcare facilities. Health minister Tulsi Silawat claimed that 2,633 doctors’ posts were vacant in the state, although other estimates put […]
Lok Sabha MPs pass amended NMC Bill
Amendments to the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill made by the Rajya Sabha have been approved by Lok Sabha MPs, bringing the controversial legislation closer to becoming law. The upper house of Parliament passed the NMC Bill last week with two amendments proposed, necessitating that the Bill be returned to the lower house for passage […]
AIIMS, Safdarjung doctors call off strikes – but more are to come
The controversy over the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill shows no signs of dissipating, even as resident doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi have called off their strikes in protest of the law. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan met with the protesting resident doctors at […]
NMC Bill wins the support of MPs – but not of doctors
The National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill may have won the support of lawmakers, but doctors continue to stand in firm opposition to what is being touted as one of the nation’s biggest ever health reforms. Rajya Sabha MPs passed the NMC Bill yesterday. The law seeks to effect a major overhaul of medical education in […]