Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to acknowledge the casualties among doctors on the front line during the coronavirus disease outbreak, the Indian Medical Association on Sunday called for an inclusive national relief for doctors and their families.
Citing government data, the IMA said 87,000 healthcare workers in the country have been infected by the virus and 573 of them have succumbed to viral contagion. “The data has raised concerns across the country. The IMA data for doctors only has registered 307 deaths to date and a total of 2,006 infected. 188 of those who died are general practitioners who are the first point of contact for people, ”IMA wrote in his letter.
“All doctors who have given their lives in the fight against this epidemic must be treated on a par with the martyrs of the Indian Armed Forces and properly recognized,” the IMA letter said.
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The IMA authorities have also stressed that doctors suffer a viral load and a higher fatality rate (CFR). He added that the surviving spouse or dependent should receive a government job based on their qualifications.
The letter to the prime minister comes almost five months after the government announced special insurance coverage of Rs 50 lakh for doctors, nurses, paramedics, technicians and other health professionals involved in the care of patients with Covid-19. Around 2.2 million healthcare workers were expected to be covered by this plan.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said in March this year that the government wants to serve front-line warriors first, not forgetting the risks they are putting themselves into when dealing with patients affected by the coronavirus. provide insurance coverage. In the three months that they are exposed to this virus hopefully by then it will be contained, we will provide ₹ 50 lakhs to each person as health insurance coverage should they need it, ”said Sitharaman.
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