Pune: IMA Demands Central Law As Doctor Assaults Rise Across India; Calls For 7-Year Jail Term And Non-Bailable Offense

Pune, 14th April 2025: In a strong statement highlighting the increasing dangers faced by medical professionals, Indian Medical Association (IMA) National President Dr. Dilip Bhanushali has called for a stringent central law to protect doctors across the country. He emphasized that current state-level laws are insufficient, as attackers are often granted bail within hours of assaulting doctors.

Dr. Bhanushali was speaking at an event organized by the IMA’s Pune branch. He pointed out the alarming rise in incidents of violence against doctors, which has created a sense of insecurity within the medical community. “Assaults on doctors are being treated as bailable offenses under most state laws. The attacker who assaults a doctor in the morning walks out on bail by the evening. This sends a dangerous message—there’s no fear of the law,” he said.

Currently, 25 states in India, including Maharashtra, have laws in place aimed at protecting medical professionals. However, Dr. Bhanushali criticized these laws for being too lenient. He stressed the need for a unified and stricter legal framework at the national level. “Instead of having different laws in each state, the central government should introduce a law that mandates a minimum of seven years imprisonment for assaults on doctors and makes the offense non-bailable,” he demanded.

The IMA has already taken the matter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. According to Dr. Bhanushali, Shah responded positively and assured that the government is considering the issue seriously. “We are hopeful that a central law will soon be enacted to address this pressing concern,” he added.

Dr. Bhanushali also raised concerns over the government’s increasing inclination toward mixed pathy—integrating different systems of medicine. He criticized the proposal to allow Ayurvedic doctors to prescribe allopathic medicines and perform certain surgeries. “Such decisions could have grave consequences on the entire healthcare system. The attempt to merge distinct medical branches under one umbrella is a dangerous experiment. We strongly oppose this trend,” he asserted.