Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 passed

Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 passed

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Health

In news

• Parliament passed the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 recently.

Key takeaways 

• The bill amends the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. 
• The bill repeals the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance that was promulgated in April this year.
• It shall include protections for health care service personnel combating epidemic diseases. 
• It expands the powers of the Central Government to prevent the spread of such diseases.
• The legislation makes harm, injury, hurt or danger to the life of health care service personnel as a cognizable and non-bailable offence.
• It has provisions of imprisonment from 3 months to 5 years and a fine between Rs. 50,000 to 2 lakh rupees.
• Persons convicted of offences under the bill will also be liable to pay compensation to the health care service personnel whom they have hurt.