AIIMS Doctors Write To PM Over Backlash Faced For Flagging Lack Of COVID-19 Equipment

Health workers are at the forefront of the fight against the coronavirus so their safety comes first.

The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) has written a letter to the Prime Minister and made him aware of the necessity of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

In its letter, the RDA has written, “Our frontline healthcare workers - doctors, nurses, and other supportive staff - have come forward with their problems and issues related to the availability of PPE, COVID testing kits and quarantine facilities, on social media. The officials should view these inputs constructively.” 

The RDA wrote further, “Instead of appreciating their efforts towards the welfare of their peers and patients during the coronavirus pandemic, they have received a harsh backlash. As an active user on social media, you can understand the condition of doctors.”

However, the Health Ministry has spoken of providing 7 lakh rapid testing kits to hospitals. But these will be sent only to some sectors, such as areas reporting cluster or containment zones and large migration centres and evacuee centres.

In the first batch, 5 lakh rapid testing kits are to be provided by Wednesday.

Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said that orders for PPE have been placed and they will be sent to states this week. He said that 4 lakh 66 thousand PPE have been made available to states.

The state of Bihar alone has asked for 5 lakh PPE. The Delhi government has demanded 2 lakh PPE kits. Similarly, other states have also appealed to the Central government to provide PPE kits to them.

Meanwhile, according to the Health Ministry, 13 lakh N-95 masks have been provided to states and 1 lakh 53 thousand masks are being purchased.

More than 50 doctors and medical staff across the country have contracted the coronavirus due to unavailability of PPE kits.

In the past few days, over 100 doctors have been sent into quarantine after two doctors of Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital were found to be coronavirus positive.

Meanwhile, in Bihar, more than 70 doctors have gone on leave, after which Bihar’s Health Department has demanded an answer from these doctors within three days.

According to reports, many more PPE kits and testing kits will be needed in the coming days. Amid this, the government should ensure the safety of doctors on a priority basis. Only then will we succeed in chasing away the coronavirus.