As the Monsoon Sessions of the Parliament progress, the government is introducing many bills. Today the Rajya Sabha passed The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
This bill will replace The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance 2020, that was introduced by the government in April after there was a dramatic increase in the violence against health care workers.
The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic saw numerous cases of violence against healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, paramedical workers and community health workers.
The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 was introduced to make any sort of aforementioned violence a non-bailable offence.
The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 the government has replaced the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.
The bill was introduced by Union Health Minister Harsha Vardhan.
In his address to the Upper house, he said, “Issues were raised on charges by private hospitals. Centre gave support to States, synchronised Ayushman Bharat rates, drug controller has taken action. In Mumbai and Surat, legal action was taken against black marketeers. ASHA workers were taken care of, the salary and other issues raised- States were given funds under NDRF. Many States have been given PPEs, ventilators etc., many States do not have space to keep them now.”
#WatchNow from #RajyaSabha The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Considering and Passing) #MonsoonSession https://t.co/SdTd51fzUy
— DrHarshVardhanOffice (@DrHVoffice) September 19, 2020
