Kathmandu, June 6
President Bidya Devi Bhandari has issued an ordinance amending the existing Security of the Health Workers and Health Organisations Act.
The president issued the ordinance upon a recommendation from the Council of Ministers, according to a statement issued by the President’s Office.
The ordinance has a provision that anyone attacking an on-duty health worker can be jailed for up to three years or fined up to Rs 300,000 or both jailed and fined.
The same provisions have been proposed for people padlocking, picketing or vandalising a health institution.
It has been learned that the new law also addresses the health workers’ demand for jail without bail in cases of attacks on them. However, several conditions are set to disallow bail.
The government resorted to the ordinance to amend the act as incidents of attacks on doctors and nurses accusing them of negligence in treatment are frequently reported.
