New Delhi, Sept. 19 -- The Rajya Sabha on Saturday passed the Epidemic Diseases Amendment Bill, 2020 by a voice vote.
The Bill was brought to prevent offences against healthcare professionals.
During a discussion, Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan said, "Many healthcare workers including doctors, paramedics faced insults due to stigma attached to COVID-19. The Centre acted on this situation found that there was a need for a law, a prohibitory mechanism against such incidents."
He said that the Centre had passed the Ordinance to make hurt of any nature or insulting the medical professionals a cognizable offence. Some of opposition members gave few suggestions to incorporate into this bill.
Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal...