Safety of Health Workers and Health Institutions (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2078

What does it do?

• This ordinance amends the Safety of Health Workers and Health Institutions Act, 2066. It was issued under Article 114(1) of the Constitution while the Federal Parliament was not in session. It redefines a 'health worker' as a person registered as one with the relevant council. 'Health institution' now covers government, non-government, private, cooperative, non-profit, community and teaching hospitals and other health institutions, as well as holding centres, quarantine and isolation sites run for communicable disease. Protection is extended to other staff working in health institutions.यो अध्यादेशले स्वास्थ्यकर्मी तथा स्वास्थ्य संस्थाको सुरक्षा सम्बन्धी ऐन, २०६६ संशोधन गर्छ। सङ्घीय संसद्को अधिवेशन नचलेका बेला संविधानको धारा ११४(१) बमोजिम यो जारी भएको हो। यसले 'स्वास्थ्यकर्मी' भन्नाले सम्बन्धित परिषद्मा स्वास्थ्यकर्मीका रूपमा दर्ता भएको व्यक्ति भनी नयाँ परिभाषा दिन्छ। 'स्वास्थ्य संस्था' मा सरकारी, गैरसरकारी, निजी, सहकारी, गैरनाफामूलक, सामुदायिक र शिक्षण अस्पताल तथा अन्य स्वास्थ्य संस्थाका साथै सङ्क्रामक रोगका लागि सञ्चालित होल्डिङ सेन्टर, क्वारेन्टिन र आइसोलेसन पनि पर्छन्। सुरक्षा स्वास्थ्य संस्थामा कार्यरत अन्य कर्मचारीसम्म विस्तार गरिएको छ। Nepal Law Commission (lawcommission.gov.np), official text Preamble and Section 2 (amending Act s. 2), PDF pp. 1–2
• A new Section 3 bars anyone, over a matter of treatment, from setting fire to or vandalising a health institution, or from beating or injuring health workers or staff. It also bars locking up or surrounding (gherao) an institution, obstructing the treatment of patients, and assaulting, threatening, abusing or insulting health workers or staff.नयाँ दफा ३ अनुसार स्वास्थ्य उपचारको विषयलाई लिएर कसैले पनि स्वास्थ्य संस्थामा आगजनी वा तोडफोड गर्न, स्वास्थ्यकर्मी वा कर्मचारीलाई कुटपिट गर्न वा चोट पुर्‍याउन, स्वास्थ्य संस्थामा तालाबन्दी वा घेराउ गर्न, बिरामीको उपचारमा बाधा पुर्‍याउन, वा स्वास्थ्यकर्मी वा कर्मचारीलाई हातपात गर्न, धम्की दिन, गालीगलौज गर्न वा अपमानजनक व्यवहार गर्न पाउँदैन। Nepal Law Commission (lawcommission.gov.np), official text Section 3 (replacing Act s. 3), PDF p. 2
• A new Section 15 sets penalties. Arson carries two to five years' prison or a fine of Rs 200,000 to 500,000, or both. Vandalism or assault carries up to three years or up to Rs 300,000, or both. Lockouts, obstruction or abuse carry up to one year or up to Rs 100,000, or both. Offenders must also pay compensation for losses, including the full value of property damage. People accused of the more serious offences may be held in custody pending trial. Complaints must be filed within 35 days. District courts hear the serious cases and Chief District Officers hear the minor ones, with appeal to the district court.नयाँ दफा १५ ले सजाय तोक्छ: आगजनीमा दुई वर्षदेखि पाँच वर्षसम्म कैद वा दुई लाखदेखि पाँच लाख रुपैयाँसम्म जरिवाना वा दुवै; तोडफोड वा कुटपिटमा तीन वर्षसम्म कैद वा तीन लाख रुपैयाँसम्म जरिवाना वा दुवै; तालाबन्दी, अवरोध वा दुर्व्यवहारमा एक वर्षसम्म कैद वा एक लाख रुपैयाँसम्म जरिवाना वा दुवै। कसूरदारबाट क्षतिपूर्ति पनि भराइन्छ, र सम्पत्ति क्षतिमा क्षति बराबरको रकम भराइन्छ। गम्भीर कसूरका अभियुक्तलाई पुर्पक्षका लागि थुनामा राखिन्छ। उजुरी पैंतीस दिनभित्र दिनुपर्छ। गम्भीर मुद्दा जिल्ला अदालतले र सामान्य मुद्दा प्रमुख जिल्ला अधिकारीले हेर्छन्, जसको निर्णयउपर जिल्ला अदालतमा पुनरावेदन लाग्छ। Nepal Law Commission (lawcommission.gov.np), official text Sections 12–16 (Act ss. 15, 15a, 16, 17, 17a, 17b), PDF pp. 4–6
• It also re-forms the coordination committee on the safety of health workers and institutions. The committee is chaired by a ministry official of the twelfth level and includes representatives of the Home Ministry, the medical and nursing councils, professional associations and private health institutions. The committee may look into incidents that harm the safety of health workers or institutions.यसले स्वास्थ्यकर्मी तथा स्वास्थ्य संस्था सुरक्षा समन्वय समिति पुनर्गठन गर्छ, जसको अध्यक्ष मन्त्रालयको बाह्रौं तहको कर्मचारी हुन्छन् र गृह मन्त्रालय, मेडिकल र नर्सिङ परिषद्, पेसागत सङ्घ तथा निजी स्वास्थ्य संस्थाका प्रतिनिधि सदस्य हुन्छन्। समितिले स्वास्थ्यकर्मी वा स्वास्थ्य संस्थाको सुरक्षामा प्रतिकूल घटनाबारे जाँचबुझ गर्न वा गराउन सक्छ। Nepal Law Commission (lawcommission.gov.np), official text Sections 5–6 (amending Act ss. 5–6), PDF pp. 2–4
• Under Article 114 of the Constitution, an ordinance lapses unless both Houses accept it. The House of Representatives' record for this ordinance (registered 2078-04-03) says it was approved by the House of Representatives on 2079-02-06 and by the National Assembly on 2079-02-09.संविधानको धारा ११४ अनुसार दुवै सदनले स्वीकार नगरेमा अध्यादेश निष्क्रिय हुन्छ। प्रतिनिधि सभाको अभिलेख (दर्ता २०७८-०४-०३) मा यो अध्यादेश प्रतिनिधि सभाको बैठकले २०७९-०२-०६ र राष्ट्रिय सभाको बैठकले २०७९-०२-०९ मा स्वीकृत गरेको उल्लेख छ। Nepal Law Commission · House of Representatives, Federal Parliament of Nepal Constitution Art. 114, PDF p. 58; House of Representatives ordinance record, status field

Gaps, loopholes and improvement ideas

None documented in the official reports we have reviewed so far.

Where does it conflict with other laws?

No conflict with another law is documented in the sources we have reviewed so far.