Covid: Huge cost of negligence

 

Chandan Sharma

Over 1100 doctors have been succumbed to Covid-19 so far. According to a report of Indian Medical Association (IMA), over 400 doctors have been died during the second wave of Covid-19. Delhi has witnessed highest number of deaths so far as about 100 doctors have been died in Delhi alone during second wave. On the other hand IMA has also launched a scathing attack on anti-corona drugs producer Baba Ramdev and asked the government to take action for his anti-allopathy comments. It is notable that former IMA president Dr. K K Agarawal too died recently fighting against pandemic.

However, the government has admitted deaths of doctors and other frontline health workers due to Corona, but hesitant to accept the numbers. Although, the number is quite high considering the fact that availability of doctors per person in India is very low in comparison with other developed nations. Moreover, the medical education in the country is very expansive and time consuming.  In such a situation the rising number of deaths of medical professionals has put a serious jolt to the battle against Corona in the country.

According to data presented before the parliament recently the ratio between doctors and population is 1:1457. About two million allopathic (MBBS), ayurvadic, unani and homeopathic doctors are available for 1.35 billion population.

The situation of nursing staffs too, is not much better. According to the official data, about three million trained nursing staffs are available and 60% to 80% are currently active in the service.

According to the report presented by the Health Minister Dr. Harshvardhan in the Parliament, at present, 562 medical colleges are providing medical education. But considering the attack and devastation of the pandemic the medical infrastructure needs to be augmented.

But the rising number of deaths has certainly a serious concern for the government as well as medical fraternity. According to IMA reports, 748 doctors died during the first wave of corona. Although, government vehemently denied the number in the report but admitted that over 200 doctors were died during the first wave. In fact, a large number of young doctors too died in the first phase, giving a serious jolt to the containment efforts to control pandemic.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too spoke to doctors several times and restructured the strategies to fight corona but the huge loss of medical fraternity, increased suffering of the common people as they now unable to find doctors easily. Telemedicine is an option, that was also suggested by the PM, but this facility is still limited to the some affluent class not the common men.