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Bharti Kashyap with chief minister Arjun Munda at his Ranchi residence on Tuesday. Telegraph Picture
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A doctors’ delegation called on chief minister Arjun Munda on Tuesday with a plea to ensure protection of hospitals, nursing homes, doctors, healthcare professionals and paramedical staff through the Medical Protection Act.
“Incidents of attacks on private and state-run hospitals in Ranchi and other parts of the state by aggrieved patients and relatives are on the rise. Such incidents not only spread fear among the medical fraternity but can also drive away entrepreneurs intending to set up hospital chains in Jharkhand,” eminent Ranchi opthalmologist and head of the co-ordination committee for the Medical Protection Act Bharti Kashyap told The Telegraph.
“We urged the chief minister to bring about a comprehensive legislation that will make attacks on doctors, paramedical staff and healthcare professionals a cognisable and non-bailable offence,” she added.
Kashyap pointed out that Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Bihar have already introduced the Medical Protection Act while Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra had done so long ago. “We have submitted a draft of the Andhra Pradesh act to the chief minister with a request to introduce a similar legislation in Jharkhand at the earliest,” she said.
According to her, Munda assured the co-ordination committee that he would speak to the health minister and take necessary steps soon.
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