Young doctors who are the frontline workers against COVID-19 and also the non COVID diseases get limited salary. With the meager income they can hardly manage to make both ends meet. As one resident doctor in an interview to a TV channel said that he has to pay monthly rent for his accommodation and also EMI; he is in a fix as to what he should do? In such situations of serious health emergency if they are not paid salary for four to five months, what more insensitivity can be expected on the part of the government than this?

Those on contractual job are likely to leave the government hospitals and join the private settings, thus affecting the healthcare to the vast majority in these time of crises. Similar reports are coming from Telangana. Unwillingly, the healthcare workers have to resort to agitation in such situation. This is happening in the present state of affairs when we are passing through a global emergency and we have already reached fourth position in the number of cases. It is not unlikely that we may be in for the worse in the coming period. The situation requires constant vigil by the healthcare workers.

No wonder doctors are ethically bound to work under any circumstances, but they too have some necessities for life. The above situations will have a negative effect on the healthcare of the patients, which is already in a dismal state. Such situations have to be dealt with serious effort through empathy sympathy and hard work.

This is not for the first time that the Doctors have to face discrimination and violence. Many COVID warriors, the doctors, nurses and others have been denied entry to their apartments at some places. In one incident two young female doctors were beaten by a goon just because he thought they were spreading infection. In another incident the police beat the doctors and even broke their bones who were returning from their duty and had an argument with the police on wearing the mask. They told the police that they have been working with the PPE whole day long and that it is not necessary to wear mask always.

There have been several incidents of violence against the doctors in the past in different parts of the country. Sometimes unscrupulous elements in the public with the backing of high powered people have misbehaved with the doctors, on frivolous issues. The young doctors, who are always hard pressed because of the long working hours have been facing wrath in such situations. Now also we see in the present COVID crises, it is the young doctors again who are at the receiving end. In fact they are future of our country’s healthcare system.

There are reports that even the complaints by the doctors that they are not getting PPEs or other equipment required to care for the patients and for their own protection have earned wrath of the authorities. One such doctor, Sudhakar Rao in the state of Andhra Pradesh was suspended after he raised the issue of non-supply of required material. Later when he raised the issue again, he was beaten and dragged by the police. It was said that he is not mentally stable. If this is true, then he all the more requires more empathy and medical care.

Our Prime Minister had asked the people to bang Thaalies, clap Taalies and to sound Shankhs in the honour of health care workers. In another speech after 21 days, he asked the people to light candles. Later on he used the army to shower flowers on the hospitals. The purpose was to express gratitude to the doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff and motivate them in the fight against the COVID. Such gimmicks however have no meaning and are short termed. They bear no fruits. What is needed at the ground level is the personal protective equipment (PPEs), properly equipped hospitals, number of beds and proper assessment of the situation to move ahead to take care of the COVID.

Other health staff is even in more difficulties. At many places the nursing staff and the safai karamcharies are on contractual duties with no assurance of job security. The ASHA workers till date do not have the status of the worker with benefits due to them. Similar is the condition of Anganwadi workers. Special care has to be given to them.

It is to be noted that the government doctors have done their best in such situation whether senior or junior. It is however sad to find that large number of doctors in the private sector, who are neither in the vulnerable age group nor have any co-morbid condition, closed their clinics and stopped examining the patients out of fear of falling prey to COVID-19. This behavior was unimaginable as this amounts to running away from duty.

Doctors are trained to work in the most adverse conditions. What will happen if doctors fear? This will enhance fear among the public and delay early detection of many diseases. They could very well purchase PPEs for themselves and their staff. Some doctors started video conferencing with the patients. The telemedicine can be supplementary but not an alternative to the direct examination of the patient. We have still to go long way as the COVID Pandemic is not going to end so soon. For this we have to ensure that the health staff gets all the care due to them. (IPA Service)