Definitions.

1[(1)] In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,–

1. (a) “healthcare service institutions" means all institutions providing healthcare to people which are under the control of the State or the Central Government or Local Bodies etc., including any private hospital having facilities for treatment of the sick and used for their reception or stay; any private maternity home where women are usually received and accommodated for the purpose of confinement and ante-natal and post-natal care in connection with child birth or anything connected therewith; and any private nursing home used or intended to be used for the reception and accommodation of persons suffering from any sickness, injury or infirmity whether of body or mind and providing treatment or nursing or both of them and include a maternity home, convalescent home, clinic, residence and consulting rooms of healthcare service persons; Received the assent of the Governor on the 23rd day of July, 2012 and published in the Kerala Extraordinary Gazette No.1559 dated 23rd July, 2012. 1 Numbered by Act 22 of 2023 (w.e.f. 24.05.2023).
2. (b) “healthcare service persons" in relation to a healthcare service institution shall include,–
   • (i) Registered Medical Practitioners, working in healthcare service institutions, including those having provisional registration;
   • (ii) Registered Nurses;
   • (iii) Medical Students;
   • (iv) 1[Nursing Students and Para Medical Students;]; 2[(v) Para Medical Workers, Security Guards, Managerial Staff, Ministerial Staff, Ambulance Drivers and Helpers employed and working in healthcare service institutions; and] 3[(vi) any other person which may be notified by the Government in the Official Gazette from time to time.]
3. (c) “offender" means any person who, either by himself or as a leader or as a member of a group of persons or organisations, commits or attempts to commit or abets or incites the commission of violence under this Act; 4[(ca) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;]
4. (d) “Property” means any property, movable or immovable or medical equipment or medical machinery owned by or in possession of or under the control of any healthcare service person or healthcare service institution;
5. (e) “violence” means activities causing any harm, injury or endangering the life or intimidation, obstruction or hindrance, to any healthcare service person in discharge of duty in any healthcare service institution or damage or loss to property in healthcare service institutions. 5[(2) The words and expressions used but not defined in this Act and defined in the Indian Penal Code (Central Act 45 of 1860) or the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974), as the case may be, shall have the meaning respectively assigned to them in those Codes.]