New Delhi: Shocked over the casualty of doctors from across the country, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Friday has emphasised on psychological counselling for medical practitioners to fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
The IMA also suggested that the design of Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) kits for doctors needs to revisit.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, IMA president, Dr Rajan Sharma said that the IMA has been advocating for psychological counselling for health workers.
"It is very much necessary. At the same time we have to come out with scientific solutions to contain suicide incidents," he said.
The statement given by Dr Sharma assumes much more significance following the fact that on many occasions, doctors found committing suicide while treating the COVID-19 patients.
It is to be noted that two days back, a young practitioner in AIIMS committed suicide. Speaking on this, Dr Sharma said, "We are still studying the case and details will be given later."
According to in-house research conducted by IMA, 99 doctors (practitioners of modern medicine) have lost their lives either by committing suicide or by getting infected with COVID-19 in the last four-five months.
Read: Indian Medical Association issues red alert for healthcare staff
"We have included data of those people who have succumbed to COVID and who were practising as a general practitioner and contracted COVID," said Dr Sharma quoting the research.
He admitted that anybody committing suicide does have a psychological reason.
Ever since India is fighting against COVID-19 pandemic, doctors, treating patients, were found either committing suicide or dying of the virus.
"There is also a need to revisit the design of Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) kits which are being used by doctors and other frontline health workers," said Dr Sharma.
He also said that IMA is preparing in-house note over the PPE and its design.
"We will submit the note to the government very soon," he said.
It is pertinent to mention here that doctors from across the country, quite often, registered a complaint against substandard PPE kits and protective gear.
Read: IMA demands setting up of all-India Medical Services for healthcare sector
Dr Sharma further said that giving remuneration to doctors as an encouragement to their duties should be adopted by all state governments.
"Remuneration will definitely encourage doctors as well as all other frontline health workers. Financial stability is a must to fight this pandemic," said Dr Sharma.
The IMA president was referring to a recent decision announced by the Bihar government to give one of the basic pays to doctors and other medical staff as an encouragement for their service during the coronavirus outbreak.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Bharat Biotech has started Phase I human clinical trial of COVAXIN. Officials from Bharat Biotech said that this is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on 375 volunteers in India.
The Bharat Biotech along with ICMR and NIV-Pune have been jointly working on a COVID-19 vaccine named COVAXIN. They are planning to bring the vaccine by August 15 following a fast track trial.
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Also Read: IMA asks centre for prepare health policy for post coronavirus pandemic
