More than 70 Padma-awardee doctors, many of them from top corporate hospitals, on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking “quick and decisive action” on a special law to curb violence against healthcare workers.

The doctors, referring to the rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, have also sought “stronger measures”, including “harsher and time-bound punishments” for perpetrators of sexual violence, to curb such atrocities.

“Such acts of brutality shake the very foundations of service by medical professionals and highlight the need to address violence, particularly against women, girls and healthcare professionals,” they wrote in their letter.

The doctors have asked for stricter enforcement of the existing laws to protect healthcare workers, severe and swift punishment to serve as a deterrent against sexual violence, enhanced safety measures for medical institutions and hospitals, and a special law for the protection of healthcare workers.

The demands listed by the Padma-awardee doctors are similar to those articulated by resident doctors’ associations and the Indian Medical Association, the country’s largest body of doctors, earlier this week, while protesting against what they view as government inaction.

A signatory said Sunday’s letter to Modi was intended to underline the widespread discontent across the medical community.

“The discontent among physicians and healthcare workers, spanning corporate and government hospitals, age groups and positions, is a critical issue demanding urgent attention,” said Anoop Misra, chair of the Fortis Centre for Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol in New Delhi.

Representatives of the IMA and a nationwide federation of postgraduate medical residents have met officials in the Union health ministry and received “assurances” that the ministry would set up a committee to address the demand for a law to curb violence against healthcare workers.

The Union health ministry had drafted such legislation in 2019 but did not pursue it.

The Padma-awardee doctors have in their letter called for an ordinance.

“We strongly believe that an ordinance to this effect can be brought immediately and the bill should be passed post-haste so that all those working in healthcare delivery systems in the country can work without fear in service of suffering patients,” they wrote to Modi.

They also called for the “harshest possible punishment for violence against healthcare workers”, whether the violence is verbal or physical, adding that such cases should be resolved swiftly by the judiciary with the offences categorised as non-bailable.

“Let this tragedy serve as a catalyst for real, lasting change. We owe it to the late Nirbhaya, and to all victims of sexual violence, and to future generations to create a society where such horrors are unthinkable,” they wrote.

The signatories included radiologist Harsh Mahajan, gynaecologist Alka Kripalani, diabetologist Ambrish Mithal, surgeon Pradeep Chowbey and cardiologist Ashok Seth.