New Delhi: Expressing concern over the plight of healthcare workers, the Supreme Court has recently directed the Central Government to inform the court how many claims of healthcare professionals are pending under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package insurance scheme of Rs 50 lakh, and the timeline within which the Government expects to settle them.
The apex court also directed the state and the central government to ensure that in addition to the schemes already framed for healthcare professionals other facilities including availability of food and resting places, non-deduction of salaries, overtime allowances, and a separate helpline for COVID related emergencies are provided to the healthcare workers.
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The Indian Medical Association (IMA) which has repeatedly raised the issue of the deplorable plight of medical professionals and doctors from time to time, has shared the details of the supreme court's new order stating, "We would wish to use this order to place on record our sincerest appreciation for all the public healthcare professionals - not just limited to the doctors, but also nurses, hospital staff, ambulance drivers, sanitation workers, and crematorium workers. It is through their dedicated efforts that the effect of COVID-19 pandemic is being currently tackled in India."
According to a recent press release by IMA, the bench of Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, L. Nageshwar Rao and Justice S. Ravindra Bhat expressed their concern and issued instructions after taking note of the plight of the healthcare workers.
The apex court observed that it is important to remember that " In the complex epidemiological circumstances that promote these outbreaks and the under-resourced health systems they are tasked with disease containment".
Moreover, the bench added that while healthcare professionals have been at the forefront of tackling this crisis, their contribution as medical healthcare professionals who have undertaken "to protect public health using proven scientific evidence and best practices and to serve to the community at large", and not just as "CORONA WARRIORS" must be recognized.
The court further observed that the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme, an insurance scheme of Rs 50 lakhs which had been extended to about 22 lakh healthcare professionals, was set to expire on 24 March 2021 but it has been extended for one year starting April 2021. However, after observing that to date only 287 claims have been settled under it, which includes claims from the families of 168 doctors who died after contracting COVID-19 while treating patients, the court directed the Central Government to inform as to how many claims are pending under the Scheme, and the timeline within which the Central Government expects to settle them.
It also noticed that infected healthcare personnel are left to fend for themselves without adequate availability of beds, oxygen, or essential drugs and some of them have been often asked to report back to duty within 10 days of first testing positive for COVID-19 (provided they are asymptomatic), even though a longer recuperation period is often recommended.
"While we are dealing with a terrible second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, there must be an effective policy and appropriate guideline to ensure that the nation truly acknowledges their effort and creates incentives for them", the court added.
Moreover, the court also instructed the state government and the central government to ensure the healthcare workers can continue to serve others while not risking the life of their family members.
It further directed the central government to examine and ensure that other than the schemes already framed for the healthcare workers other facilities like availability of food, resting facilities during intervals between work, transportation facilities, non-deduction of salary or leave account, if afflicted by COVID 2019 or related infection, overtime allowance, in both public and private hospitals, and a separate helpline for doctors, and healthcare professionals, in cases of COVID 2019 related emergencies, is provided. also provided to the health care workers are also provided to the healthcare workers.