Amid rising coronavirus cases, the frontline healthcare professionals are facing lots of issues in its dealing from Bihar to Delhi and even some of them had to sacrifice their lives too.
With death of Samastipur civil surgeon RR Jha due to Covid-19, the death toll crossed 110 mark so far.
Few days back, Dr Javed Ali who working as a doctor with Delhi Government NRHM, had succumbed to coronavirus. The state government has announced a Rs one crore compensation to the family.
Besides, he will be given a status of corona warrior too.
Civil surgeon in-charge of Samastipur Dr Satish Kumar Sinha on Wednesday morning said that after Jha was found corona-positive, he was admitted to AIIMS hospital in Patna where he passed away.
He said that Jha was also a kidney patient and his health worsened after being infected by the corona virus.
Till last week, a total of 104 doctors have died due to COVID-19-related complications till July 13 across the country, as per Indian Medical Association data.
Another four deaths of doctors — three of them in road accidents — were also linked to COVID-19, taking the total number to 108.
According to IMA National COVID registry data till last week, of the total 1,302 doctors infected with COVID-19, 99 have succumbed to the disease. Of those dead, 73 were above the age of 50 years, 19 in the age-group of 35-50 and seven below 35 years, the data showed.
“IMA declares RED ALERT to doctors and medical administrators to raise their guard. If COVID-19 mortality has to be lessened, it has to start with doctors and hospitals,” the doctors’ body had said in a statement.
The IMA strongly advocated the leadership of doctors in adopting all scientific best practices.
This requires intense review and updating of all administrative set ups in the hospitals, including infection control protocols. Any gap in providing for the safety of doctors, nurses and staff have to be plugged, it said in the statement.
A feedback system from the doctors, employees and public needs to be put in place. Cleaning and sanitising protocols should be meticulously adhered to, the IMA said.
Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association India (FORDA) has written to Union Health Ministry regarding financial assistance for COVID positive doctors infected in the line of duty & inclusion of cashless treatment facility in Health Insurance cover.
The letter undersigned by President Dr Sanjiv Dev Barman, General Secretary Dr Joyutpal Biswas and Dr Sunil Arora mentioned that Dr Joginder, a junior Resident Doctor of Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital in Delhi contracted the infection at workplace.
“The doctor is currently receiving medical care at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi. However, despite possible effort of financial assistance by Resident Doctors of BSAH, the healthcare expenditures have become unaffordable for the family. The family has not received any financial assistance from any government sources yet,” the FORDA’s letter to Union Health Ministry said.
The doctors’ body also raked up the issue of Healthcare Insurance Scheme announced by the government for frontline medical care workers. They said that the amount will be received only following the death.
The FORDA requested the ministry to provide cashless treatment facility to the Covid-19 positive doctors.
